Nothing New Under The Sun

We think of satire as a Western thing .... and certainly not an Islamic idea. However, surprisingly not only has Islam had occasional outbursts of satire, but it was last seen just over a hundred years ago. How different the world was then, especially the Islamic world, which was in the grip of empires. The Russian, British, French and Ottoman Empires controlled the Islamic world, and this allowed some openness of thought by the secularists in the region.

Azerbaijan for example was controlled by Russia from the mid 19th century, and after a brief flourishing of independence after the first world war, was reoccupied by the Communist Russians until the final collapse of the Soviet empire in the 1990's. This spell of control by a non Islamic power gave this crossroads state access to ideas from East and West (and all points in between).

Comparing The Benefits Of Religious versus Secular Education 

A Sad Day For Freedom and Democracy

Yesterday was a sad day in British history, as for the first time in 200 years, the politicians (and a lobby group in favour of curbing the press), decided in secret negotiations in the middle of the night, that we should reintroduce legislative controls over the British press. 

 

John Milton Called For Press
Freedom In 1644 In Areopagitica

 

Licensing of the press in Britain was abolished in 1695 ....

Internet Freedom In India

In a bad move for free speech and democracy in India, communications Minister Kapil Sibal has vowed to crack down on offensive Internet content ....

This Upset The Indian Government

..... they have decided that they will introduce guidelines to ensure that "blasphemous material" did not appear on Internet.

 

The reason for this sudden Chinese style censorship? Apparently 'doctored' photos of the Indian PM Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi are on the Internet, and have angered the Indian government. They should be glad that they don't have satirical magazines such as the UK's Private Eye, or Frances 'Charlie Hebdo' .... this would look like tame stuff indeed.