Will Europe defend and embrace the freedom of speech or blasphemy legislation? What will the United States of America, once Europe has made its decision on the issue, do? It’s inevitable that Europe will face a showdown. Phedon Phedonos is the mayor of Paphos, Cyprus. He posted on Facebook a video of young Muslim migrants protesting in his city. The protest was not over a local issue but rather the burning of Qur’an copies in Sweden. This has even wider implications for Europe and the world.
Greek City Times reported on Tuesday that Phedonos said, “The march by young Muslims in Paphos’ tourist area with the Qu’ran held in their hands and with apparent religious fanaticism, should concern our government, state, and everyone in general for the immediate actions that need to be taken.” History doesn’t forgive mistakes or omissions.”
It was evident from the demonstrators’ “obvious” religious fanaticism. “Allahu Akbar” does not mean, “God Is Great,” as Western media outlets routinely claim, but “Allah Is Greater,” that is greater than your God. This is the cry of jihadist terrorists around the world as they commit violent acts. It’s a declaration that Allah is greater. 9/11 hijacker Mohamed Atta told himself to “shout ‘Allahu Akbar because it strikes fear into the hearts of non-believers.”
It was evident that their fanaticism was also manifested by the fact that they demonstrated in Cyprus in response to something that had happened in Sweden. Islamic apologists in the West and their Leftist allies accuse opponents of jihad-related violence of collectively blaming the entire Muslim population for the actions of some “extremists” if they speak honestly about the Islamic doctrines that underlie jihad-related violence. If there is any collective blaming, it comes from the Islamic side. Jihadis, their supporters, and enablers often blame all Christians for the recent Qur’an burning in Sweden. This was carried out by an Iraqi former Muslim named Salwan Momika.
Momika said, “I will tear it up and burn the Quran in front of the mosque in Stockholm. This is democracy.” The nation is at risk if we are told that this is not allowed. In fact, Sweden’s Court of Appeal declared recently that burning the Qur’an as a form of protest was legal, and part of Sweden’s commitment to freedom of speech. The Swedish police had previously stopped a previous attempt to burn an Islamic holy book on the grounds of violence.
However, the Court of Appeal’s ruling was not the final word. Reuters reported on Thursday that the Swedish Government is considering making the burning of the Qur’an illegal. Justice Minister Gunnar Strommer said that “We have to question whether the current order was good or if there is a reason to reconsider it.” He explained that the Qur’an burnings made Sweden a target for terrorist attacks based on jihad. Strommer said, “We see that the Qur’an’s burning last week generated threats to our security.”
Of course, it did. That’s why the police exist. Sweden should defend freedom of speech when it is threatened. It doesn’t uphold freedom of speech if it does not. If it does not, then it is no longer free and a tyrant can seize the opportunity to do his will without any hindrance.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC) 56 member countries (plus the Palestinian Authority), have this as their goal. Reuters reported that Hissein Taha, the OIC secretary-general, called on Western countries to use laws against hate speech to ban Qur’an burnt.
This issue will not go away any time soon, as the demonstration in Cyprus shows. Can the Western media and political elites, who have a long-standing admiration of authoritarianism, accept the demands of the demonstrators and the OIC?
