March For Free Expression

The March for Free Expression took place in London this weekend. Infidel Bloggers Alliance has a good round up. The march emerged as a reaction to the Mohammed cartoons. Many of those wishing to take part were therefore upset when the organiser stated that he didn't want the cartoons to be on display-

It became plain to me from talking with a couple of British Muslim journalists over the past few days that even the most secular, cosmopolitan British Muslim seems incapable, at the moment, of accepting that a display of the cartoons might not be a racist attack on them. That being the case, it had become clear that Muslims who agree with this campaign would have felt unable to attend the rally. That's why I have asked people not to display the cartoons and it is the only reason why.

To those who are annoyed, I ask what part of this did you not understand: This will be a march in favour of free expression, not a march against Muslims

What race are Muslims again?

This all sounds very reasonable but it kind of defeats the point of the march- Muslims were, afterall, arguing that free speech was all well and good but not when it "defamed" Islam or Mohammed. By stating that Muslims agree with the rally in theory but were unable to support the cartoons in practice they join against free speech. The cartoons, as he is well aware, were not an attack on Muslims but a statement about censorship in the face of fear from Islamic retaliation.

It seems utterly bizarre that a march could be organised for free expression, and then the organiser would then come out against free expression for fear of upsetting some Muslims.

Isn't that how all this got started in the first place?

It's also worth noting that one man had a placard of the cartoons and the police swooped in on him (he was not arrested). Strange how the cops were so eager to move against him but they did absolutely nothing about the placards calling for murder at a Muslim rally outside the Danish Embassy.