One of the most developed economic & political entities in the world is the European union, it's a union composed of European members states all share the same customs, traditions & values.
As stated in articles I-1, I-2 of the European constitution.. The union is open to all European states that respect the members states' values which are.. Human dignity, Freedom, Democracy & minority rights. But -unfortunately- what we see nowadays is approximately different.. The great countries of the union don't follow those principles.
What we notice from the European constitution is that free speech includes any topic no matter how the importance of it is, but each person is free enough to express without restrictions. By proving so we all saw the Europeans' reaction when a danish newspaper "jyllands-posten" showed our beloved prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h) in cartoons as a terrorist which got the whole Islamic community angry calling for a European apology.. But surely the union disagreed in order to protect the free speech concept.
That's a great proof of how much Europe respects freedom of speech even if that freedom insults the human messenger(Muhammad), but does Europe really accept all kinds of free speech?! don't make sure!.
David Irving a British historian has been facing a punishment in jail after he was arrested in Austria accused of denying the (Holocaust) where Jews were killed during the 2nd world war in Europe. he had denied the existence of concentration cap gas chambers where Jews were killed.he was arrested due to a law in Austria & most of the European countries prohibiting the denial of the holocaust and carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
Not only Irving... Dariusz rajczak a former member of the opole faculty was accused of being anti-Semite when he published 350 copies of his book "dangerous subject" in which he also denied the killing of the Jews in the "Auschwitz" gas chambers.
Not only Austria, not only Poland.. Holocaust denial is considered an anti-Semitic theory in many European countries since shortly after the world war 2, as their governments hold that it's motivated by an anti-Semite or neo-Nazi agenda.
At the 1st glance we might be deceived by the so called freedom of speech in Europe. If Europe really respects the free speech totally so why do the European countries pass such laws "Loi goissot" (a law prohibiting the holocaust denial in France), if denying such a Holocaust hurts the emotions of the Jews & should be prohibited; so why shouldn't insulting prophets and religions be prohibited too??!!.
It's not a call for accepting the holocaust denial but a need to protect all people not only some. The same as we care for the Jewish suffer we have also to care for Muslims emotions and prevent hurting them. As the supreme court justice Oliver Wendell Holmes said "If you believe in free thought then you must defend freedom not only for those who agree with you.. But freedom for the thought that you hate".
