Japanese editorial excerpts -2-

TOKYO, Feb. 18 Kyodo

Selected editorial excerpts from the Japanese press:

WHAT RIGHT TO TORMENT? (The Japan Times, an English-language daily)

Muslim furor in the Middle East and other parts of the world touched off by the appearance of cartoon depictions of the prophet Muhammad has led to diplomatic rows, embassy burnings and violent protests. It now begs serious thought about how the media should exercise the rights to freedom of the press and expression, important principles in democratic society.

The 12 cartoons first appeared in the Sept. 30, 2005, issue of Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten, a conservative Danish newspaper with a circulation of 150,000. When they first appeared, the cartoons drew little attention. Death threats, however, in mid-October against two of the artists who drew the cartoons led to public anti-Muslim discourse in Denmark. This in turn caused Muslim protests in the country and diplomatic protests from Islamic states. Then, on Jan. 10, the printing of a selection of the cartoons by a Norwegian Christian publication triggered further diplomatic protests and a boycott of Danish goods.

This month, newspapers in European countries such as France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and the Czech Republic have printed the cartoons, again drawing furious reactions from Muslims. The newspapers have cited their rights to freedom of expression and the press in carrying the cartoons. Although some non-European media also printed the cartoons, most influential newspapers in the United States and Britain have refrained from doing so.

The Danish newspaper has said it regrets publishing the cartoons and would not have run them if it had been able to foresee the consequences. It has apologized for hurting Muslims' feelings but not for publishing the cartoons in the first place.

Still, given the Islamic world's long-held sentiments toward Europe with regard to historic events such as the Crusades and European colonial rule in the Middle East and North Africa, the Western world's economic and political dominance in today's world, and the way in which the cartoons depicted the prophet Muhammad, it should not have been that difficult to predict how Muslims would react when the images appeared in a European newspaper.

Freedom of expression does not mean printing or broadcasting any image for its own sake without limits. When it comes to exposing truth that must be shared with the public for its benefit, full play should be given to the exercise of these rights. Such investigations by the media may offend some people, but this cannot be helped in some cases. The publication of the cartoons in question does not qualify as a valid exercise of these rights.

The lesson for the media is simple but important: The right to freedom of expression carries responsibility, and editors must search their souls for a hidden bias or ideology when reporting things related to a different culture.

(Feb. 18)

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