Islam: Charlie Hebdo and Difficult Questions of Faith and Freedom

This week, we discussed the tragic acts of terrorism in Paris, France, including the reported religious motivations of the terrorists.

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Many Muslims believe that their sacred texts prohibit showing the face of Muhammad or depicting Allah in any way. When Muhammad is shown (such as in the painting above), his face is hidden behind a veil.

The cartoonists at Charlie Hebdo objected to being told what they can and cannot draw.

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In class, we discussed difficult questions related to freedom of speech and respect for others' religious beliefs.

The students unanimously agreed that violence is never an appropriate response to an act of disrespect.