The irony of Muslims worldwide rioting over a cartoon deemed insulting to Islam could almost make the ADL laugh.
For years, the Anti-Defamation League has been culling the maniacally anti-Semitic editorial cartoons and op-eds emanating from the Arab and Muslim world. Jonathan Bernstein, the ADL’s regional director, says he’s been bringing up the cartoons for years with every diplomat who comes through town.
If they’re from regions where the cartoons are published, he’ll ask them why the government is allowing these cartoons into state-run press. If they’re from Europe or elsewhere, he’ll ask them to bring up these cartoons during negotiations with countries that allow them to be published.
For those who argue the ADL is asking for a curtailment of freedom of the press, Bernstein replies that in the Arab and Muslim world there really isn’t much freedom of the press to begin with. Fanatically anti-Semitic materials are, unfortunately, representing the government line.
The ADL’s official position on the cartoon controversy is that the illustrations, particularly those directly linking Muhammad and violence, were obviously offensive, but the right to a free press sans threats of violence is non-negotiable.
Bernstein’s discussions, naturally, are rarely pleasant. In fact, a few years ago Egypt’s Ambassador Nabil Fahmy went on the offensive, angrily accusing the ADL of nitpicking and ignoring all of his nations’ positive developments.
Fahmy will be back in town next week, and Bernstein wonders if he’ll have changed his tune.
“I’m hoping he’ll be a little more sensitive to the impact these cartoons can have on people,” said Bernstein.
The ADL’s monthly update of anti-Semitic cartoons can be seen online at www.adl.org/main_Arab_World/arab_media_portrayal_jews.htm.
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