Last
updated: March 2007
When
satire backfires
Another
student newspaper editor became the target of religious anger last month.
The 19-year-old
editor of a Cambridge University college magazine was forced into hiding
‘for his own safety’ after an attempt of religious satire
back-fired.
Clare College satirical magazine Clareification was renamed Crucification
for a special edition published on Friday February 2.
Controversially the magazine reprinted the now infamous cartoon of the
Prophet Mohammad first printed in Danish newspaper Jyllands Posten in
September 2005, triggering violent protests worldwide. The issue also
included editorial opinion on the Koran and Christian Gospels as well
as critiques of various religious texts.
Crucification has grabbed the attention of the media internationally.
The front-page carried the headline ‘Ayatollah rethinks stance
on misunderstood Rushdie.’
The magazine printed a cropped version of the Mohammad cartoon next
to an image of the president of the Union of Clare Students. The cartoon
was captioned with the president’s name and vice versa.
There was also a comment suggesting one was a ‘violent paedophile’
and the other was ‘a prophet of God, great leader and an example
to us all.’
The issue provoked strong reaction from the college and the Muslim community.
The vice-president of the university’s Islamic Society called
the edition ‘crude, unabashed prejudice’ and ‘deeply
offensive’, whilst the students’ union office was bombarded
with complaints from enraged students.
The editor’s return to campus coincided with meetings to discuss
the repercussions of the issue and the students’ union and college
have been in discussions about how the material came to be published
and what action should be taken against the editor.
Students and staff are not commenting on the disciplinary proceedings
underway at the college against him but it seems likely the student
will either be held back a year or expelled.
In a statement issued by Clare College, a senior tutor, Dr. Patricia
Fara, said, “Clare is an open and inclusive college. A student-produced
satirical publication has caused widespread distress throughout the
Clare community.”
“The college finds the publication and the views expressed abhorrent.
Reflecting the gravity of the situation, the college immediately began
an investigation and disciplinary procedures are in train.” Calum
Davey, the president of the Clare College student union, expressed his
‘deep regret’ over the publication adding, “This material
does not reflect the views of Clare students.”
The college has been keen to disassociate itself from the views expressed
in the edition and has publically announced that displininary proceedures
are underway. The college has not announced whether other students involved
in the production of the newspaper will be subject to disciplinary action.
A university spokesman said police had been made aware of the incident.
A spokesman for Cambridgeshire Police said, “This is a matter
for the university authorities to deal with.” He added that an
investigation was not yet in progress.
Hicham Kwieder, Chairman of the Mosque Committee at the Abu Bakr Siddiq
Islamic Centre in Cambridge, wrote to Varsity newspaper expressing ‘sorrow
and anger’ on behalf of the Committee and congregation.
He said that the material published ‘deliberately insults the
honour of the Blessed Prophet Mohammed’ adding ‘the Mosque
condemns this provocation in the strongest terms. Incitement to religious
and ethnic hatred is at all times immoral, and its consequences for
harmony between communities and nations can be grave’.
However some people have voiced criticism of the university’s
‘attack’ on the editor.
President of the National Secular Society Terry Sanderson stated, “We
are shocked that the staff and even the student union at this supposedly
liberal college have joined the attack on this student because he had
the temerity to poke fun at religion. Free expression is such a precious
commodity and is under such ferocious attack at present from religious
interests that it is disgraceful that no-one is standing up for this
young man’s right to be rude about religion - even about Islam”.
Other criticism has been leveled at the local press for describing the
content as ‘racist’ and as ‘vile material’.
On their website, MediaWatch, an organisation established to protect
freedom of expression, stated, “The editor of Clareification did
nothing wrong. The only abhorrent thing about this affair is the fact
that he now finds himself in hiding, he has been condemned by people
who should be supporting him, and will apparently be punished for committing
no crime.”
Dr Fara said, “I have never accused the guest editor of being
a racist.”
“I have been personally accused of calling Muslims ‘a race’
when they are not,” she added.
