Why freedom of speech is more important than ever after the Salman Rushdie attack

Counter Cut's thoughts go out to Rushdie and his family

Salman Rushdie was stabbed Friday night at a literary for his work discussing elements of Islam. This attack is not only an attack on Salman Rushdie but an attack on free speech and liberal western values. Salman Rushdie is in hospital receiving treatment and Counter Cut wishes him well.

Image Credit: BBC

We live in a time where political correctness and moral outrage have become targeted political weapons to silence those who disagree with a set narrative. Topics deemed ‘offensive’ have been made unquestionable by social justice warriors online and enablers in the media. 

If you question gender ideology then you are labelled ‘transphobic’ and in Dave Chappelle’s case he had protesters trying to cancel his comedy specials in an attempt to punish him economically. When speakers at universities have controversial opinions students protest and have them cancelled from speaking at the university, ridding other students of the opportunity to hear differing perspectives on issues. 

Salman Rushdie wrote ‘The Satanic Verses’ which was a novel which gained great reviews, however Islamic fundamentalists considered the book blasphemous for its portrayal of sections of the Quran and the prophet Muhammed. This led the Supreme Leader of Iran to call for Rushdie’s death. As a result, Rushdie received a vast number of death threats. Many people in the west defended his freedom of speech, however, many also questioned his right to offend and inadvertently victim blame him for the abuse and death threats he received. 

What makes this puzzling is that liberalism in the west was born out of protest against the strict Christian values that controlled much of society. ‘Life of Brian’ was considered to be blasphemous by strict Christians in the 1970’s, however, liberals fought for the freedom to make movies that offend. So, this asks a vital question, where is this defence for free speech by liberals when people offend Islam?

Whenever someone draws pictures of the prophet Muhammed, left wing commentators call them ‘Islamophobic’ and say that they shouldn’t cause offence. However, since when did it become the duty of people to follow the rules of another religion? Are we meant to not drink coffee to avoid offending Mormons? Should we stop having blood transfusions to avoid offending Jehovah witnesses? Political correctness is confining free speech to avoid offence despite the wider implications of doing so.

It is important to defend freedom of speech because victim blaming people like Salman Rushdie creates an acceptance of violence and attacks like we saw Friday. There have been teachers in France who have been murdered for showing pictures of the prophet Muhammad, this needs to stop and defence for expressions of free speech need to be defended. 

Salman Rushdie needs to be treated as a champion of free speech, and his right to criticise has to be defended. People who criticise Islam need to be defended instead of labelled as Islamophobic. Ideas and faiths should be scrutinised without the threat of violence and western society needs to defend this principle.

By Jack Dixon