Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1313317
11 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 29 NOVEMBER 2020 Joanna Onions & Dr Christian Colombo OPINION Diversity, tolerance and extremism RECENT events, in Malta and elsewhere, have brought to the fore the issues of Freedom of Ex- pression and Religion, and of racism, which are in our view interrelated and should be consid- ered together. Contrary to what many believe, human rights are not a law of nature; they have been agreed over time by international discussion. Among them is freedom of expression; a fundamental, but not unlimited, right. It does not imply that all expression is acceptable; it can, and should, be criticised or challenged by anyone with dif- fering views. We need the free exchange of ide- as, using facts, rational argument, and speaking truth to the powerful, with the aim of a just and freedom-loving world order, recognising that we are all different but equal. While few would con- test freedom of expres- sion, there is no general consensus on what is ac- ceptable or not. For ex- ample according to the Maltese Imam, religious vilification should be il- legal. In line with what Maltese law now rec- ognises, we believe that no-one has a right to be protected from ideas with which they disa- gree, such as by what they view as blasphemy. Having our feelings hurt is surely a price worth paying for a free society. If we silence dis- senting views, not only are we assuming that we are inevitably right, but also avoiding exposing those views to better ones; rather, we must engage with them. On the other hand, as Raph- ael Vassallo noted in a recent article in Malta- Today, hate speech ('threatening, abusive or in- sulting words or behaviour... to stir up violence or racial or religious hatred... on the grounds of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, colour, language, ethnic origin, religion or belief or political or other opinion') is a crime here – as it is in many other jurisdictions. And slander and libel remain actionable. Which brings us to freedom of belief, which implies that all may, unhindered, follow their conscience in terms of what they do, and do not, believe. But that does not imply freedom to impose such beliefs on others nor, more im- portantly, to resort to violence or incitement to violence in support of or against any belief. Extremists such as Islamists exist in many con- texts (including racism and politics); they aim to divide, not unite, communities, to enable one group to dominate others. The distinction between religion and extrem- ism is crucial – while we believe that the right to practise the former should be protected, the latter can never be justified as 'freedom of be- lief'. We see an alarming level of Islamophobia in Malta and elsewhere, driven by the actions of a minority of Muslims worldwide. We do not condemn the Muslim faith, nor the vast majority of Muslims who live peaceful- ly alongside compatriots of other religions or none; we condemn terrorism and murder. While we would always support anyone's right to air their views – provided they do not in- cite violence –, irrational forms of prejudice such as racism, homopho- bia and Islamophobia, which stress an'other- ness' of, and separation from, other human be- ings, and seek to justify discrimination against them as an easily iden- tified common 'enemy', should nevertheless play no part in a democratic (and no longer wholly Roman Catholic) Mal- tese society. The recent government consul- tation document 'To- wards a National Action Plan Against Racism and Xenophobia' acknowl- edged "that there are in- creasing manifestations of racism and hatred in our country… we are seeing manifestations of the extreme right, a dan- gerous ideology that is not acceptable in an equal society". This is particularly noticeable with regard to this country's (and the EU's as a whole), treat- ment of, and many attitudes towards migrants, whose humanity many seem to deny. Discriminating between people because of the colour of their skin, economic circum- stances (for which Europe, both in the past and now, bears much responsibility), or other cul- tural differences, has no basis in science, and no place in a modern, multicultural, diverse, enlightened Malta. 'Racial', or cultural, 'purity' doesn't exist; just about every country has had immigration throughout its history – which Malta, of all countries, surely must know. Even that ridiculous, gleeful dis- covery will give that boy at least a rough idea of what his own lan- guage even is; and where it – and, by extension, himself – is actual- ly coming from. And believe me: I'm not being facetious here. It is precisely discoveries such as these – trivial, in themselves – that broaden our narrow sphere of understanding, in any subject. If nothing else, they give you an indication of the sheer reach that even a single academic – or any expert in his or her field, for that matter – is likely to have. By the same token, they also remind you of the sheer, volumi- nous work that must have gone into an endeavour like that: years and years of dedicated research, no doubt. And that's just looking at only one, tiny aspect of Prof. Friggie- ri's entire life's work; and without even taking into consideration the effect that so clearly had on the students he actually taught. So even just for this reason alone, I was vaguely gratified – again, for want of a better word (it could just as easily have been 'relieved') – to see that sort of achievement finally given the re- spect and gratitude it so richly deserves. And yes, I feel compelled to add this too: no offence to Marado- na fans, or anything… but that sensation somehow magnified exponentially, when I also real- ised that not even the death of a football legend (in a football-mad country, no less) was enough to overshadow the public reaction. It's almost as though the last achievement of humble little Prof. Oliver Friggieri – whom I had seen so many times, mean- dering around the Tal-Qroqq campus, lost in his own private universe – was to somehow man- age to dribble past the greatest footballer who ever lived… Honestly, though: you'd have to be a right royal… erm… 'bird's nest', not to applaud such an as- tonishingly glorious send-off… We need the free exchange of ideas, using facts, rational argument, and speaking truth to the powerful, with the aim of a just and freedom- loving world order, recognising that we are all different but equal Joanna Onions is member, Dr Christian Colombo is chairperson of the Malta Humanist Association