With reporting from Shabina Khatri and Riham Sheble
Updated on January 9 to include information on ways residents can offer their condolences through the French embassy in Doha.
Qatar’s government and one of its most prominent imams have joined the global chorus of condemnation over yesterday’s deadly shooting at the headquarters of a French newspaper.
Three masked gunmen stormed the offices of Paris-based satirical publication Charlie Hebdo, killing 12 people – including cartoonists, the publication’s top editor and police officers.
Video posted by France’s state-run broadcaster reportedly shows the assailants shouting “Allahu Akbar” in Arabic (“God is great”) amid the gunfire. Other reports citing amatuer video say the attackers also shouted “We have avenged the Prophet Muhammad.”
Al Jazeera reported that Charlie Hebdo has received multiple threats in the past for publishing caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad, among other controversial sketches.
In a statement, Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it expressed “strong condemnation and denunciation of Wednesday’s attack” and “stressed that such acts against defenseless civilians contradict with all moral principles and human values.”
Meanwhile, in a series of tweets, prominent local cleric Sheikh Yusuf al Qaradawi condemned the attacks and stressed that Islam and the Prophet Muhammad never sanctioned the taking of innocent life.
ندين بقوة ونرفض نحن علماء الأمة وجماهيرها كل عمل يريق دماء الأبرياء، ويزهق أرواح الآمنين، وينشر الفساد في الأرض، أيا كان منفذه وأيا كان دينه
— يوسف القرضاوي (@alqaradawy) January 7, 2015
إن ديننا الحنيف يحترم النفس الإنسانية، ويرعى حرمتها، ويحرم الاعتداء عليها، ويجعله من أكبر الكبائر، ولا يجيز بحال القتل العشوائي للناس
— يوسف القرضاوي (@alqaradawy) January 7, 2015
(Translation: “We, the scholars of the Muslim nation and its people, strongly condemn any action that sheds innocent blood and takes away secure peoples’ lives, spreading evil on earth regardless of who commits this action and what religion they belong to. Our sound religion respects humanity and honors it. It forbids any attack on humanity, making it one of the gravest sins. It does not in any way endorse the arbitrary killing of people.”)
Residents’ reaction
Several residents also expressed similar sentiments on Twitter:
Being horrified at the murder of journalists ….#JeSuisCharlie #Paris #NousSommesCharlie #CharlieHebdo #France
— Nish (@duhenish) January 7, 2015
We Muslims condemned the attack. Till we know who did it and why… We must not pointing fingers #ParisShooting
— Dr Ihsan Rafie (@ihsan_rafie) January 7, 2015
http://twitter.com/samiromer44/status/552816431989944321
Mazen Abd Rabbo, a French national living in Qatar, told Doha News that he feared yesterday’s attack would have lasting implications on relations between people of different races in his home country:
“Who will suffer now? Muslims in France. Black people in France. Arabs. They will be even more marginalized in the already society that is looking at them as ‘different’ and not ‘of us.’”
A spokesperson for the French embassy in Qatar said those who wish to send a message of condolences can do so by email to [email protected] or through http://www.ambafrance-qa.org/
Local debates
Qatar and its neighbors have struggled with how to respond to religious insults similar to the ones that appeared to offend and motivate the attackers behind yesterday’s incident.
While universally deploring violence, lawmakers and religious authorities have debated how to balance residents’ right to freedom of expression with efforts to curtail religious defamation.
In 2013, Qatar presented draft legislation to the Arab League that would have allowed countries to prosecute individuals who defame, deride or denigrate religions or their prophets.
Ebrahim Mousa Al Hitmi, Qatar’s then-justice ministry assistant undersecretary for legal affairs, said:
“The law does not interfere in any way with the freedom of opinion and expression which is well protected and guaranteed…
Therefore, the main goal of this law is to deter all forms of defamation of religions and give each country that ratifies it the right to file lawsuits against those who offend religions, even if they are not residents.”
But it remains unclear if the draft legislation ever gained any traction.
Qatar’s proposal came a year after hundreds of local residents marched toward the US Embassy in Doha to protest a YouTube video that disparaged the Prophet Muhammad.
Shortly before the protest, Al Qaradawi spoke in a Friday sermon, saying:
“Going to the embassies and breaking it or throwing rocks at it or burning it is not the right solution. We need to ask the USA to have an official stand against such acts of insulting religions.”
Thoughts?
Cartoons are silly, but often smart in the way they foster thought. Murdering people over a cartoon is thoughtless and horrible. May freedom of speech grow stronger from this tragedy.
Well said – #JeSuisCharlie
It will.
Charlie Hebdo magazine has an average monthly circulation of approx 30,000 issues.
Thanks to this massacre the cartoons in question are now being spread all around the world. By the end of the week there won’t be a person in France who won’t have seen a cartoon of the Prophet. And by the end of the month, there will be cartoonists all over the world drawing more and more cartoons of the Prophet.
If the goal of this attack was to stop people drawing and seeing such cartoons, then they have failed miserably in their goal.
So true. I just googled them- never saw them before today. Not really my cup of tea, but then I can just ignore them
they’re always on the newstand in paris but nobody ever seems to buy it
Oh the irony. Like the original prophet cartoons in Denmark. they had been released I think 2 yrs earlier to little fanfare then someone from the ME dug it up and it became an overnight sensation.
Yeah – there’s a lot of trash out there but killing people for producing it?
If you remember it was Egyptian clerics who raised the Danish cartoons and they even faked extra offensive cartoons to get the Muslim faithful angry. Control and power. Reject your religious ‘leaders’
I’ve become agnostic over the years. I’m beginning to become atheist now.
Your words hold true. Today in Quebec,Canada all French newspapers ran one of the cartoons in support of those slain. The English press not,but spoke of their support for running the cartoons. I am seeing many Muslim governments and groups condemning this act,which I feel is important.this stuff needs to be stopped or radicalism will prevail and help destroy attempts for society to work together.
Charlie Hebdo journalists are now planning to print run of their next edition.
Instead of the usual 30,000 copies, the next edition will be a circulation of 1,000,000 copies. You can almost guarantee the front cover will be another cartoon.
No one was particularly interested in cartoons of the Prophet until others vowed to kill people for drawing them. Nowadays they are more common than ever before, and there will be more to come as a result of this stupid attack.
these magazines become collectors items, check eBay.
This is absolutely horrible, I am muslim and am so disgusted by how some people, muslim or not, can think that killing human beings is normal. I just can’t.
I lived in Toulouse, and in 2013 an islamist had went to a Jewish school and starting shooting at innocent kids “because they were Jews” aka – non muslims – aka – bad people (according to them that is…) This leads to people continuously associating this negative image of Muslims/ Arabs to being terrorists….
But can we seriously blame them ?
Yes we can seriously blame them. Unlike you and me and many of the fine ladies and gentlemen in here, the Governments in places like Saudi Arabia and Qatar etc should stand up and declare what is allowed and what is not in Islam. These ideas about infidelity, flogging, stoning, killing for the prophet, bribing “Gifts”, and all needs to be condemned PUBLICLY! – Not doing that by those who have the power is why people often generalize. Plus, If the book itself is being misinterpreted by some, why is it such a crime to translate it into an easier language where the average human being living in the 21st century could understand for once and all?
Really, this is getting so crazy.. Every single day extremists kill and torture and bomb But NOT one king or prince or leader stands up and declares that this is “Haram”….
What makes me sad is the number of people supporting these murders or justifying them. You just have to read Twitter or other forums to see that some think although bad they should have expected it.
The other thing that is disappointing is when the Danish Newspaper published Mohd cartoons 100,000 of Muslims protested worldwide. In Pakistan they attacked buildings, burned cars and people died. In face it wasn’t the only country where people died.
Now 12 people have been murdered in the name of Islam where are these huge protests condemning such barbaric acts in the name of Islam? Nowhere.
People justify killings everywhere. Mali, Central Africa, Libya and what do these places have in common? French Army. I am not justifying any killings here, just saying that concluding this whole issue in what you wrote is a bit bias.
#JeSuisAhmed
This wasn’t attack because of some French colonial hangover it was murder in the name of Islam as the attackers shouted during their killing spree.
Normal Muslims need to take back their religion from the extremists as all Islam is known for now is violence and brutality. It won’t happen of course because many secretly desire a Muslim world and think that these murders are on step on that path.
I am pretty sure you’re smart enough to understand that these people represent Islam just as much as the KKK represented Christianity and the teachings of Jesus.
#JeSuisAhmed
KKK don’t kill people because they were black in the name of christanity. These people kill in the name of Islam explicitly
KKK do kill people in the name of Christianity. They burn crosses in their ceremonies before and after they kill blacks and Jews.
Again these ISIS followers do not represent Islam, just as the KKK do not represent Christianity.
If only people had the same sympathy for ~40,000 Iraqis who were killed by the American crusade as they had for this case.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protests_against_the_Iraq_War
36 million people, including 1 million in London alone. Are you planning to go to any marches this weekend, in the Muslim world, to protest againest fundamentalist Islam?
I will be busy preparing for the 4th anniversary of the fundamentalist Christian terrorist attack which happened in Oslo. Christian terrorism is on the rise and people should be aware of that.
I think what he did is right
You think whom is right?
He who?
Muslims
I personally don’t agree with mocking others beliefs and I find most such cartoons/comics somewhat tasteless and crude; with little thought stimulation despite what others have said. However, it is these countries laws and they allow freedom of speech to that extent. If someone came here and said something against our Prophet then he would be punished by law. Imagine if in turn we had people react to that by burning buildings and killing people cause they didn’t agree with those values.
It is just mindless chaos. Islam taught us to follow justice and not to become thugs and killers. I do not see senseless violence as the answer. It’s a shame that you feel burning buildings, shooting people, etc. is the means of settling something.
My faith in Islam is strong enough that I do not feel threatened by others thoughts. If I do not like it then I (as I do) remain in a Muslim country ruled by Sharia law or just ignore it; as I know in my heart what I believe and find peace within.
It is not ok to go to a secular state and then try to impose my beliefs on them as I would not want it vice versa.
You won’t find what you don’t want to see:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/07/muslims-respond-charlie-hebdo_n_6429710.html
A few statements issued and in France. Probably trying to cover their own backs from the backlash. (Unfaily of course)
Where are the screaming Pakistanis matching down the street shouting not in my name or those in Indonesia in a mass demonstration of 10,000 saying we stand with France.
Nothing, pathetic.
If you are saying that the absence of these massive protests means that majority of us support what happened then you are delirious. I agree with you that these massive protests should exist but that requires unity, coordination, and organization which admittedly we as Arabs and Muslims lack in.
Just like during the conflict with Gaza and Israel over summer, you could find massive protests all over the world condemning Israel’s unproportional attacks except in the Middle East where it should have existed the most. It is definitely embarrassing but does that mean that we supported what Israel was doing? Of course not.
Muslim leaders from all around the world condemned what happened, not just in France to “cover their own backs”. If you want to criticize our lack of unity coordination and organization then I fully agree with you but don’t sit there saying that we as Muslims support the barbaric actions that happened.
Anyways if you truly believed that Muslims support such violence and inhumanity then it surprises me that you would choose to live in a country where up to 80% of the people are Muslim. I’m not saying you should leave or whatever I’m just confused with the logic.
This wave of religious poison has changed Europe and for the worse. Europe was s tolerant open society that cared not for your religious affiliations.
Now we are seeing the anti Muslim backlash in many countries, which affects the law abiding sensible Muslims who just want to get on with daily life. They fear to speak out against these scum for fear of being labelled not Muslim enough or forgetting their roots.
It’s us and them and it didn’t have to be this way
#religionpoisonseverything
religion not only creates a great divide in europe but also in africa & asia.
Wherever religion puts down it’s poisonoius roots, murder, division and discrimination follow
I kinda start to like you, your saying is good this time 🙂
Two ideas that I’m completely against:
1- Freedom of expression allows somebody to offend others, it’s “a good thing”, and they shouldn’t be offended because they’re wrong.
2- They offended us so we have to kill them because they’re wrong.
Both are idiotic ideas and have negative effects. They don’t have any positive effects, and can only split people apart.
Charlie hebdo has always been like that, their main aim is to be offensive to everybody, nothing changed and nobody can do anything to “improve” it, they will feel the need to speak more against Islam (not that they didn’t)…
These murderers should be brought to justice… The problem is that they think that they won something…
I disagree in 1. I did not find what they did was offensive but others did. So who is right?
Many people find Islam offensive in some countries. Should it be banned in those countries?
Just to clarify I am not saying Islam should be banned. If we people want to practice that faith it is their personal choice.
Interesting that you felt you had to add that bit about not saying it should be banned. Just in case, someone jihads you right? 🙂
I am not afraid. Let them issue their death threats, I bow to no God and I certainly do not bow to them.
Well interesting he said he doesn’t think it should be banned, but his previous comment talks about all religions being eliminated! Ironic. Actually, for your first question, who is right? While we can disregard your earlier claim that Charlie did nothing wrong, and the further juxtaposition that presents…anyways, who is wrong and who is right? Some are wrong and some are not wrong really, ethics and laws are based on segments of society raising issues, they are given the status of right by their power, legitimacy and urgency, so in this context, the obvious wrong, murder…easy, that’s wrong here, that’s wrong in France, as far as I know, wrong everywhere outside of self-defence and the grey areas of war and not war. For the first one though, actually if we are to protect freedom of speech / expression and if it’s protected, then again, they can say what they want but aren’t above criticism, even at this tragic time, Charlie said take us to court we’ll fight it, were they bullies, racists, above the law? I doubt many people know, they were probably offensive, did they cross the line to defamatory, or inciting hate? Are those illegal in france? Did they yell fire in a theater so to speak? It would be a shame that in the rush to defend freedom of speech we all lost sight of freedom of debate, constructive criticism and of course being responsible with our art or work, but also that freedom of speech isn’t the real victim here, it’s the 12 people and their families, let’s not give these killers too much credit for threatening the less crazy people’s way of life
I think he means let them die a natural death, the day of religions is passing.
Freedom of speech endorses the right to offend. Being offended is subjective to each person. That does not mean we shall ban, or sue all who are offensive in order to hold back expression. People need to be respectful, understanding and accept multiculturalism.
It would be good if Islam as well as Christianity, Judaism and others went the way of the Greek gods, Norse mythology and sun worshipers. Mere footnotes in history and a bunch of interesting stories to learn about.
They are thankfully, well on their way.
THANK YOU!
Most muslims do not understand what subjectivity is. What you think is right and wrong could be the opposite of what MILLIONS think is right and wrong. As long as no one is invading your privacy and inflicting direct physical or psychological harm, you have no right to be offended. Even If you are offended, you make authorities get your right and not shoot people.
The problem is that to many Muslims, when you kill to defend the profit’s image, you are granted heaven. I challenge anyone here to say I am wrong about that.
Charlie Hebdo challenged taboos because respecting them, in their own words, “strengthens their censorial power. Worse, allowing extremists to set the limits of conversation validates and entrenches the extremists’ premises: that free speech and religion are inherently at odds (they are not), and that there is some civilisational conflict between Islam and the West (there isn’t).”
I do think they have something. It is extremely difficult to publish anything remotely critical about Islam or Judaism; the Jews sue you while the Muslims shoot you. *buh-dum-tish*
Without being able to offend people, your civilization stagnates because it turns out that everything is offensive to someone. You should have the right to offend someone, and they should have the right to ignore you or come back with an adult version of, “I know you are, but what am I?”
Besides, If you’ve been through school, or have siblings, you have almost certainly been insulted quite robustly by someone at least once, so we shouldn’t feel we have to pamper the delicate flowers so much becasuse they are not real. The worst though are the people who get offended on behalf of someone else.
2: Agree that killing (or discriminating against) people just because they are different to you is not right.
Freedom of expression to me is there to protect people so they can express relevant or earnest opinions. Then there are those who use that to support stupid or offensive ideas or remarks. I do not really see that,but. I understand some feel it is important and essentially ignore it. There will always be those who wish to push the limits though. That’s is why I feel it is important to show my child when something is wrong and why. Personally I think it is in poor taste to depict the prophet if that is sensitive. It is nowhere on the scale of the damage being done by radical extremists,and that I loath.
You have absolutely zero right not to be offended. Some of things that you espouse are vile to me, should I be allowed to shut you up?
Let’s be clear to Al Qawardi and his like, Charlie Hedbron did nothing wrong. Religion is not above satire or criticism, they are no special rules to placate the offended.
If you are offended that is your problem. Don’t whine like a child, you have the right not to read certain magazines or not watch certain films, do not impose your censorship on the rest of us.
Free speech was hard won from rulers and religious institutions and we will never give it up
Thank you, MIMH.
Freedom of Speech. It should be accepted in its entirety, not given get out clauses such as Religion and heads of State are sacrosanct. Parody, lampooning and critique are all healthy, all develop debate and challenge status quo. What is there to fear? I may disagree vehemently with you, but support unreservedly your right to voice your opinion. Je m’appelle Charlie
Religion is not something that should be made fun of.. each person is free to have his/her own beliefs. Making more cartoons about the prophet as a response to this attack is childish, and making such cartoons in the first place is ignorant. I’m against this terror attack, but I believe the journalists got what they deserve (this is what happens when you play with fire, your fingers get burnt)
Oh dear, here we go trying to justify murder.
Your religion does not have special privileges, so don’t ask for any. Look what has happened now, my Twitter feed is full of Mohd cartoons. I just ignore them and I sugguest if you are easily offended don’t watch tv, don’t read the newspapers.
You have the right to be offended, but you do not have the right to never be offended.
I didn’t say Islam is privileged. I said, press shouldn’t make fun of ANY religion!
Ever watched Life of Brian?
If not you should.
or The Simpsons 😉
Look up Jesus and Mo online. Brilliantly satirical cartoons. Wear a diaper though you may get offended.
Perhaps religions are there to be challenged. If people blindly follow a creed without questioning the message, how can they learn the meaning of the message? How can they value truth, if they have no way of measuring it against all the other creeds? How can they value what they have if they can never discuss the way others think, or challenge their belief? Religion is really not the same as Faith
Unless it is “blind” faith or is that the first pillar?
or anything ever.
Many people believe that honour killings are wrong, but they wouldn’t take it upon themselves to murder people who murdered their sisters/daughters/cousins. Just because something offends you doesn’t give you the right to murder someone, and nothing can ever justify killing. An all powerful God doesn’t need a wannabe with a rifle to do His work.
We have a winner.
I think people like you who justify are quite scary!
or nutty
I cannot believe what you just wrote!! ‘ the journalists got what they deserve’… Your ignorance knows no bounds, but at least you are at liberty to express your hideous ungodly sentiments. In France, everyone has the right of expression, and religion has no special exemption. I take it you wouldn’t care if I drew a cartoon of Jesus, or Vishnu or any other religious figure? NO ONE deserves to die for expressing an opinion. Not even you….
It seems that all those who replied skipped to read this part “I’m against this terror attack”. I really don’t justify the killing (I wouldn’t agree that it happens), but in my opinion they deserved it (since it’s past already)
Your statement is nonsensical. How can you be against the attack but believe they got what they deserve? Are you just confused as to the use of the English language or are you actually reconciling these two things in your head somehow?
context clues: he probably meant they finally got what’s coming to them…mind you they have been assaulted & threatened several times before. not that they deserve it or anything. they should have seen this coming
So you’re saying the sensible thing for them to have done was to keep quiet?
my take on this, those cartoonist seem to have some sort of death wish or something, but for those cops ,visitors , employees who had nothing to do with the publication , who were victims, it is very tragic to have needlessly lost their lives.
You are against… but they got what they deserved?
Go and see a doctor, for your (and our own) good.
it means the same “you don’t justify the killing but they deserved it”. At least be coherent!
Sadam got it right. They were threatened, but didn’t take it seriously and continued to do it. Therefore, they deserve it 🙂
If any of you plays with a lion and gets eaten, I’m not gonna blame the lion for eating you. You made yourself a meal on a silver plate.
Lions? I don’t think so.
Lions don’t kill in the name of politics, ideology or a God.
This subject is beyond your intellectual bandwidth, and your comments are distasteful and border on the dangerous. I suggest you take leave and retreat. You are neither coherent, nor compassionate.
And before I forget, go ask for forgiveness.
Got what they deserved? By getting murdered? Are you for real?
Free speech in the Civilised World is here to stay, whether you like it or not. If you disagree with something you are equally free not to read it, watch it, or follow it. There might be others who might want to.
Sicko alert! Aren’t you just contradicting yourself there! Shame on you for condoning murder. This is a crime against humanity. I think you have a twisted interpretation of whatever religious reference you are reading.
Making Cartoons is one way to reach out to people and challenge the status quo. Sometimes making you smile despite yourself is the way to get a message across. http://theoatmeal.com/comics/religion
Religion is not the same as faith,
Did you really write “the journalists got what they deserve”?
Both the cartoonists and killers are idiots.
This sums it all up 😛
Maybe but one are murderes and the other one draws pictures that kills no one.
I know which one I would prefer to meet for a debate
That’s like saying ” Both Israeli and Palestinian Kids are idiots ” Good thing you’re anonymous ey !
Well if you throw rocks at an Israeli tank you get what you deserve, right?
exactly.
Someone called their bluff. Some things just shouldn’t be done; e.g. insulting the Messenger of Allah. You play with fire, you might get burnt…. or in this case, toasted.
Disgusting. Justifying murder. You are a horrible human being
Horrible?
You are too kind and polite.
You should be ashamed. Im sure your God will discuss it with you at a later date
This is a crime against humanity and you are condoning it! Seriously?! Your brain probably took a stroll and never came back….
You actually could get away with what you’ve just said thanks to the gift of free speech you are enjoying. Condoning murder makes you, ehm…
if you know ,that you will hurt 10 millions…with cartoons , why you do it ?? #vousetescharliechaplin
it is still called freedom of speech in the country who made a revolution happened with the motto “Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité”. This is the essence of France.
Do you understand that they mock everyone? Not only one religion, all, plus politicians plus social affairs; this is secular Europe and how it is and has to stay!
We had our wars. We are what we are because of our past and what we have learned.
no one is asking you to change your secular Europe…. politicians and others are not equal to our prophet .
i believe that u heard what happened to “DIEUDONNE” when he did something hurting another religion. #freedom of speech!!!!
satire hurts all. The arm of satire hurts more than guns or bombs. And normally the critics involved are true. It is called democracy and freedom of speech. I guess you cant take it because you’re not European. Satire is witty and intelligent…..I guess that’s why you can’t get it
You never know if im European or not…..and stop guessing , try to understand what im saying . im not justifying that act ….and about democ and freedom of speech ask your french friends about (
dieudonne ), and they will tell u about freedom of speech
no need to ask, I know already! You might learn something though
Dieudonne was on the left and now cavorts with the extreme right. His performances are repressed for anti-semitism, holocaust denial (completely nutty) and incitement to violence. He’s perfectly free to say what he likes. He’s just not allowed to “perform” in publicly owned spaces. There is a difference between that and shooting cartoonists.
Its just a cartoon. It is meant to rouse comment and debate. Which it has
Ah, but remind me where most people flock to for their holidays when it is too hot yani.
Paris and London, the bastions of free speech!
Sorry for you “yani” doesn’t belongs to my lexical filed , and i don’t go Paris & london ,specially when its hot…. and stop playing the gods of freedom of speech .
Deleting much of this thread for being off topic.
Saves me some reading. 😉
I do find that ironic. Many people in the ME berate the west constantly but you’re right, the first place they go on vaca is the USA and Europe. We’re so despicable but yet we’re so enticing. They drive our cars, they watch our movies and tv shows, they eat our food, they wear our clothes….
funny thing.
Doha News, on this day, on this thread, you censor discussion. For once lets have a bit of freedom of speech eh?
hhhhhhhhhhhh
I’ve had numerous posts censored and they were the tamest on here.
There are posting problems with disqus – Are you sure you’re actually being censored?
Ah, freedom of speech and freedom of expression, not too popular in this neck of the woods… ask a certain Qatari poet.
I will continue to delete comments that violate our policy, including ad hominem attacks and remarks that completely devolve the discussion.
Feel free to delete, you don’t have to explain yourself. Not all people can see the bigger picture 😀
We are all adults here, and given the discussion thread, I suggest that for once Doha News let comments stand so they can be discussed and challenged
Will you explain each time why? If not it can get pretty confusing.
Yes, will try.
I commend you. There are merits in a mediated forum – e.g. no abuse, no going off track etc. can lead to a more focussed discussion. The problem with the Disque technology behind the discussion is that if the comments are mediated after posting (rather than before as many others work – even in France!) is that people tend to get the pip!
Though now the mediate before seems to be turned on?
For some streams at least..
So a poster infers I should die and that’s OK huh?
Yes
Wouldn’t it be an ad hominem attack?
Apply your rules to all.
Boy, you are in Qatar. There is no freedom of Speech!
I am appealing to DN not to Qatar. I know there’s very limited freedom in Qatar.
Good, So they can shut up your kind of ‘speech’
very true
As long as it’s based on your judgement
Agree … What is this Abu dhabi ? Lol
Je suis Charlie
condoleances aux proches des victimes
A journalist at Charlie Hebdo said…“And if some people are not happy with this, they can sue us, and we can defend ourselves. That’s democracy. You don’t throw bombs, you discuss, you debate. But you don’t act violently. We have to stand and resist pressure from extremism.”
Kind of sums it up for those intelligent enough to understand it.
I blame the journalists for not taking the threats seriously. I agree with you that democracy is the way, but if you are away that there are “violent” people out there who threatened you. Then, you tease them? They kill you 😀
aware*
And you will justify. Inta magnoon yahmar
I hope god has mercy on their souls. At least now they can draw cartoons in a much safer place 😛
I stand by my previous comment. Thanks for proving it correct.
How can you joke about the death of innocent people?
There is no need of mercy, they are martyrs.
This is the year 2015 not 1015. There are no martyrs. There is only the dead. The living world has been deprived of their humanity and courage to speak out against intolerance and hypocrisy. Their children have been deprived of their parents. They are victims of a senseless poisonous mentality that is now preached unchecked throughout the world in the name of Islam, and against which Islam appears to have no answer.
there should be no threat – they did nothing wrong in printing a cartoon showing the prophet – its not illegal in France – get over it !
I blame the journalists. Really? The religion of the muderers is so weak that it was threatened by a few cartoons?
Why did you delete my comments ?? What did i say that you didn’t like? You can’t just pick and choose what you want to delete… Plz tell me what was so wrong it got deleted
They’re not making much sense today.
The irony is if you have said those things in France we would still be able to read them…
Excellent point – and then we could decide for ourselves if we wanted to read the post, or simply walk away and ignore. Je suis Charlie
Your comments stereotyped Arab immigrants. And you used offensive language.
At least he didn’t shoot them Shabina. Leave the comments please, it isn’t defamation, its discussion. We need the stereotypes out in public so we can challenge them
You can speak up, go write a blog or post a youtube video. It doesn’t have to be here.
Just to make this clear, the Omar who is commenting is not affiliated with DN in any way. Outdoorboys, DN has a clear comment policy and I am sticking to our rules.
But Muslims are being stereotyped. What else is to be expected when there is no popular uprising against ISIS, with the “warmongering” West once again being drawn in to fight the tide, and we are unable to differentiate between the gunman who wears no uniform and hides in the shadows and the ordinary Muslim going about his daily life. That is the growing reality and rather than censor it you have to acknowledge it.
Exactly right Reporter. The Western online forum I use is overwhelmed with condemnation of the whole of Islam- ordinary people, who see the terrorists and gunmen as agents of Islam. If they are not, they say, then why isn’t the Muslim World out there putting them down? The ordinary Muslim family, living in the West is being tarred with the same brush, supposedly all pedophiles, subjugating women, with murderous intent towards all who don’t share their faith. Ignore this and really the divide is just going to get wider and deeper. This has to be shared here, has to be discussed, the issue aired, condemned, addressed. Stop slapping CENSORED on lively debate.
Wow you’re honestly something else.. Bring them back if that’s possible and let people be the judge… People negatively stereotype qataris day and night on your site using offensive language and more… And you couldn’t be bothered..
I speak the truth about arab immigrants and their welfare living in Europe and you remove the post.. This is bull..
You mean you speak ‘your truth’; yet you call other people’s ‘truth’ about Qataris offensive stereotyping??? Hypocrisy much?
Dude it’s okt if they delete it’s their site
As long as the rules are clear – like cricket.
They can delete what they want… Ppl insult qatari every chance they get and the editors let it pass… Say something about Arabs immigrants or Palestinians or Lebanon and it disappears in minutes … Double standard … This is why i say this is nothing if what it claims to be and will always be just a blog not a news site to be taken seriously
Yes I agree, I always see offending stuff directed to Qataris but when it’s something else (which btw we rarely ever criticize ) other nationalities its removed
I tend to agree with you. I hope you and the other countries don’t stop posting, we need the balance.
SHABINA WHY DID YOU DELETE MY COMMENT? I DID NOT CALL OUT ANYONE OR USE OFFENSIVE LANGAUGE … and yes I’m using all caps
Maybe someone found it offensive. If only there was free speech, hey?
free speech doesn’t exist
Oh yes it does, but not on Doha News.
That’s what you think, or what “they” made you think. You need to know who “they” are, because it seems you just see one side of the story. I’m not talking about Charlie Hebdo specifically.
They? They? On the contrary, Omar, unlike you I see both sides. Censorship is wrong, it protects the powerful, controls the masses. If you are not permitted to voice what is in your heart, or to vocalize an argument, then those who control the media, education, governments and yes religions, also control us. Sometimes I will argue that Black is White, if only to move the controllers out of their comfort zones and in the West, the right to do that is sacrosanct.
“To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” ~ Voltaire
Loads of censorship in the west, defamatory laws, communication decency act, digital millennium copyright act, smith act, the watershed, libel laws, patriot act, corporate censorship, flag burning laws, obscenity laws, official secrets act, terrorism acts etc.
And yet overall it still maintains a freer press, a freer media, a freer environment for discussion. How do they do it?
Overall? Hard to judge when you don’t know what’s not being reported! I’m responding to the sacrosanct-ness of the claim initially made, a luxury perhaps enjoyed by a previous generation of ours, but for us, we must depend on those locked up in embassies in London or airports in Russia it would seem
A conspiracy theory? We can only know what we know. We can also try and measure press freedom… http://rsf.org/index2014/en-index2014.php
I was JUST about to say how much I love Doha News and how we can debate regardless of where we’re from, or what God we believe in. Then I come and see I can’t comment on a post because it’s been deleted….??? DohaNews, Please keep it real, as long as we’re not insulting you or anyone, don’t delete anything. A forum is made for discussion, ans disagreements, but it’s also made to open other people’s mind and perhaps..perhaps reach an agreement ….Changing the world, one comment at a time ladies & gents 😉
It doesn’t work that way, Catalea. This is our forum and we don’t want bigots (especially anonymous ones hiding behind free speech) on it. We will delete offensive and unproductive comments, as has always been our policy.
Bigotry is on the rise, because it is the last refuge where there seems to be no other solution or answer, and at the moment much of the free world feels absolutely powerless not just in the face of terrorism but in the relentless subversion of it’s free and democratic culture. Qatar agonises about the potential loss of it’s historic culture, and takes measures to protect it that would be unacceptable in the free world. The free world with it’s culture of tolerance has not yet gone down that route.
Who decides what a bigot is, just out of curiosity? Have you defined it? Is it possible the DN staff are the bigots?
Please read the comment policy for more info: https://dohanews.co/comment
What do you mean bigots and anonymous hiding behind free speech?!
People could go to jail in here if they put their real names and last names, let alone their real IP addresses.
Please have a clear set of rules that leave no room for your personal subjectivity on what is a stereotype and what is not. Forums are designed so people can agree and disagree. The universe is not full of colorful butterflies where people are singing and dancing 24/7 Shabina.
I say if a comment has no vulgar language, direct insults and threats of any kind, it should be good to go. You are a journalist… I need not remind you of this 🙂
Thank you and I hope you will take no offense in what I said.
Yes unless of course it’s Omar saying I should die and that’s OK and then you threaten to ban ME from the site. LOL.
At least he didn’t insult you.
I deleted that comment.
I’m confused. Qatar condemns the attack on freedom of speech, yet bans its own press, newspaper, TV and radio from reporting on the deaths of Lillie, Jackson and Willsher and the other ten children, and four teachers killed due to the negligence of Doha Villaggio owners and management, and Gympanzee owners and management. Double standards and hypocrisy.
Double Standards & Hipocrisy. Couldn’t have defined it better !
Agreed. Hypocrisy at its best.
I thought it was reported in the local news?
While the initial fire was briefly reported have you noticed the only press reporting on the ongoing trials is Doha News? Local radio, TV and newspapers do not report on the trial delays due to the defendants just not turning up, multiple appeals and constant rescheduling dragging the process out for the victims families while the parties found guilty have not just spent a day in jail, some are overseas representing Qatar as the ambassador to Belgium and his wife.
Friends we still have in Qatar tell us the majority of people there think that what happened at Villaggio has been dealt with due to the blackout of information. In reality there has been no justice, no responsibility taken by those at fault, and no advice on what IF ANY improvements have been made to ensure no other families experience the completely avoidable devastation we live with. Additionally the report into the fire, and assistance with navigating the court process we were promised by His Royal Higness the Emir is still denied to us.
I am really sorry to hear that and it is disgraceful how your case being handled. I do hope you eventually receive justice and closure for your loss.
Jane, not a week goes by here without us thinking of you and your loss. Never give up.
Just 1 year after its original establishment in 1969 the same French newspaper (initially called as Hara Kiri Hebdo) was shut by the government for publishing a joke about death of Charles de Gaulle. Repeated requests from French Muslim community to stop publishing insults about their religion were ignored.
This leads to confusion about standards of French democracy where one can slam religious leaders but NOT secular ones.
Conclusion – there is no true democracy in this world… wherever you go.
I thought it was obvious. Democracy will die just like socialism and another setup will take its place.
Maybe it will but the idea of freedom never will.
Freedom is an abstract term. I feel free here, as I felt free back home, in Europe.
That was in 1970, 45 years ago! You can make as many jokes about the French president as you want now.
Not exactly. In 2008, French cartoonist Maurice Sinet, also known as Siné, was fired from Charlie Hebdo, where he had been working for 20 years, for his “anti-Semitic” cartoons, which were mocking the relationship of former French President Sarkozy’s son with a wealthy Jewish woman.
He was fired but he won the court case for wrongful termination.
Qatar, like many ME and Gulf countries is a GIANT pool of controversy, bribery and double standards. Everyone in Qatar knows that. No one can stand up and do a thing about it. This is how it is. They bring in top schools to teach journalism and they imprison poets who write poems and then disallow journalists to write about daily tragedies that might impact the faulty underserved image. I am sorry people, but what is right is right. Don’t hate me for saying this, I have nothing personal against anyone of you and I know most are great people. I understand your patriotism, but I beg you to see things from a different angle. Humanity first, patriotism next. We ate all educated in here I presume….
STOP DELETING COMMENTS!!!!
Break any of these rules?…
https://dohanews.co/comment/
Je suis Charlie.
Je suis Charlie !
The growing frustration in the west is that moderate Islam seems to have neither the ability nor the will to halt the march of radical Islam. Even the words of the Immans denouncing the terrorists are now being criticised as “aimless bleatings” The west are not warmongers (with the exception of the abhorrent President Bush and Tony Blair) but when liberty and democracy were threatened millions of ordinary people took up arms and gave their lives in two world wars and many conflicts since to protect it. Rather than an uprising against ISIS there seems to be mass flight to the west.The belief is growing in the west (rightly or wrongly) that moderate Muslims will do nothing because in generations to come their descendants will live in “western” Islamic states that have been established by democracy, not terror. The consequences of all these factors together with the pressure on local infrastructure is the current resurgence of the radical right wing eschewing the need to protect the Christian culture on which the west is based. Unless something happens then we are heading for real conflict in which the moderates on both sides of the religious divide will suffer.
I think the problem is there is no such thing as moderate Islam. Politicians in the west talk about it but it’s a fallacy. If you subscribe to all tenets of Islam that included death to apostates, murder of homosexuals and the stoning to death of womem for adultery. No sensible, nice person could agree to any of that.
Maybe Islam needs a rewrite and reinterpretation like what happen to the bible to bring it up to date. (Without the nasty bits)
Every religion be it Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism etc. teaches about peace and humanity, and more equally disapproves cruelty towards self and others, however, in real life one seems to be more intolerant towards others once they find their own religion is too good to be true and others least acceptable, yet we never fail to appreciate from our hearts, if someone sacrifices his life for others willingly, nor do we inquire whether he is from any particular religion at that time. Because we are all members of a single religion ie; the religion of being a HUMAN, which is the GREATEST religion of all.
Live and let live!
Absolute Cr*p. Religion has nothing whatsoever to do with basic human instinct that most humans show and which is subverted by some religions..
I don’t need a divine being to tell me right from wrong
they may have offended, they may have been wrong, but thinking that this is a deserved or in any way justified response is insane and immoral by any standards
First of all, my most sincere condolences to families of all victims of terror attack in Paris and Istanbul.
Having research a bit about this French newspaper, I was surprised to find out that just 1 year after its original establishment in 1969 (initially called as Hara Kiri Hebdo) the newspaper was shut by the government for publishing a joke about death of Charles de Gaulle. Repeated requests from French Muslim community to stop publishing insults about their religion were ignored.
Yet they have faced more court cases from Christians than any other group.
In the oldest surving biography of Mohd if you can believe the story told Mohd supported those who killed satirical poets. In this I guess they find their justification.
For those that don’t know it is the story of Asma bint Marwan who mocked Mohd in one of her verses. Mohd is supposed to have said ‘who will rid me of Marwan’s daughter’
Sure enough one of his followers kills her as she sleeps and gleefully tells Mohd. His response?
‘You have helped both God and his messenger!’
No sensible person would justify what had happened to those journalists, but at the same time, they willfully chose to engage in activity that is known to irk fanatics to a degree where they will want your head. These are people known to not care about losing their own lives let alone taking those of others, to deliberately antagonize them is only asking them to make you a target, and there are several notable examples just from recent times in Europe.
Sure you shouldn’t have to fear for your life for offending someone, just as someone with an expensive car should not have to worry about driving around any part of some major cities, or women should not have to feel nervous about walking alone at night in certain areas. However the reality is the unsavory types or not swayed by what should/or should not occur in a society, and you are not going to be reasoning with them when you practice your “freedom” because you feel entitled to despite the risks you may expose yourself to, be it thugs who will rob you, predators who will sexually attack you, or fanatics who will want to kill you.
Charlie Hebdo aka Charia Hebdo produced hate speech towards minorities in France and insulted Islam several times over. What happened to them is unacceptable yet not unpredictable considering the past month in France and several supposed IS related incidents. Furthermore If people in Doha were not allowed to protest in regards to a great deal of inhumanity and injustice around the world such as the Palestinian occupation, I don’t see why a memorial service should be tolerated either for these disrespecting journalists.
Both protests should be allowed but a memorial service for Charlie is important. We can not let these people drag is back 500 years. Disrespectful yes, but wrong no.
Freedom of speech is absolute.
Qatar funds Islamists who cause these things to happen and then condemn the acts?
How about not fund them and not condemn? I think it is a better way to show your support Qatar!
Shabina, Am I allowed to state my opinion? Or does my comment get deleted for speaking my mind in a civilized manner?
Actually it is not qatar that has funded terrorist Islamic groups, it is individual (rich) Qataris that have been sending them money.
Agreed, but Bin Hammam also bribed FIFA, yet we were told that he had no “official” or “unofficial” role to the bid..Do you see a trend in here?
Also, do you really think any decision of that type happens in Qatar without full agreement and planning from the top? It is not like decisions in here are issued based on a cabinet voting system…And who are these individuals? Why don’t we have names and last names?
Please tell me you were being sarcastic because I know you are good at it 🙂