Most of us have come to the same conclusion, despite where we find ourselves in the debate over this issue: this is a story with plenty of villians and few, if any, heroes. But there is a true hero in this story, a partisan on the side of freedom, who has made a great sacrifice. His name is Jihad Momani.
Jihad Momani was the editor-in-chief of the Jordanian weekly newspaper Shihane. On Thursday, Jan. 26th, Mr. Momani published three of the Danish cartoons in Shihane, running them alongside an editorial penned by Mr. Momani which said "Muslims of the World, be reasonable."
" What brings more prejudice against Islam, these caricatures or pictures of a hostage-taker slashing the throat of his victim in front of the cameras or a suicide bomber who blows himself up during a wedding ceremony in Amman?" asked Mr. Momani.
Mr. Momani was arrested the following day, after which he was sacked by the paper and the publisher pulled all issues from newsstands. A few days later, another Jordanian, Hashem al-Khalidi, editor-in-chief of a weekly tabloid called Al-Mehwar which also reproduced a few of the cartoons, was likewise arrested.
In all the things that I have read about the Danish cartoon controversy, the best and most inspiring has been from Tim Cavanaugh, who wrote "If freedom of expression isn't dangerous, than it isn't worth defending."
How true.
Like most of the axioms of childhood, the old fable about sticks and stones and our invulnerability to the dangers of words is a lie. Most of us know that before we've finished middle school, and have learned how words are often far more hurtful than fists. But for reasons failing comprehension, many of us forget the lessons of youth as we enter into adulthood, and believe somehow that words can't hurt, or at the very least that words shouldn't hurt. And because of that, we turn against hateful speech and attempt to suppress it, while at the same time claiming to still embrace the notion of freedom of speech.
My new hero, Jihad Momani, understands that there are more dangerous things than words, and that the danger is that essential things will not be said in a society that disallows dangerous expression. He has made a great and personal sacrifice, something that no Danish cartoonist did by choice, to speak forbidden words.
If we are friends of freedom, we will stand united with Mr. Momani. I urge each of you to contact the Jordanian embassy, and let the Ambassador, Mr. Karim Kawar, know that neither Mr. Momani or Mr. al-Khalidi should go to jail. They will be having their next hearing in the next ten days, so I urge you to act quickly. For the sake of all human's right to freedom.
Embassy of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
3504 International Drive, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20008
Telephone number: (202) 966 - 2664
Fax number: (202) 966 - 3110
E-mail: HKJEmbassyDC@aol.com
Thank you very much for your time.
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