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Charlie Hebdo attack a lesson for media: retired prelateArchbishop Emeritus Mar
Joseph Powathil said the French satirical weekly was in the habit of hurting
religious sentiments of believers, including Catholics.Posted on February 5,
2015, 8:29 AM Thiruvananthapuram: A retired Catholic archbishop from Kerala
has called for "limits" to freedom of expression, saying the recent terror
attack on Charlie Hebdo had a lesson for the media although he clarified that
he wasn't justifying the assault that left 12 persons dead.
Archbishop Emeritus Mar Joseph Powathil said the French satirical weekly was in
the habit of hurting religious sentiments of believers, including Catholics.
"The Charlie Hebdo attack has a lesson for the media - don't overstep limits of
freedom of expression," Powathil said in a column that appeared in the
Church-run Malayalam daily Deepika on January 30.
"The recent terrorist attack on a publication in Paris is in no way
justifiable. Terror is condemnable whatever its objective be. Yet, the
arrogance that one can do anything in the name of freedom of expression also
has to cease. It was a habit for some atheists to use this French publication
to oppose believers and their beliefs. It is understood that attacking the
Catholic Church was fun to them," Powathil said in the column titled "Media
must not cross the Lakshman rekha".
"It's high time those who indulge in such cruel fun realize that they are doing
injustice to the society. Not just terror, poisonous journalism too must be
opposed."
While the January 7 Paris attack, that left several prominent editors and
cartoonists dead, provided the backdrop to the article, the immediate trigger
appeared to be an issue closer home: the "bar-bribe" scandal that has embroiled
a minister considered close to the Church and who has been under attack from
the media.
Powathil, a former president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India
(CBCI), builds his case step by step.
The column begins with a reference to a public debate between English writers
G.K. Chesterton and George Bernard Shaw in which the dramatist apparently asked
Chesterton if he would oppose it if he (Shaw) hit him on his head with his
umbrella, which was his (Shaw's) private property.
Chesterton, Powathil wrote, replied that he would strongly oppose it as the
head was his, though the umbrella might belong to Shaw.
Powathil felt that what Chesterton meant was there were limits to using private
property.
The priest cited examples of the power of the media, saying blown-up newspaper
pictures of sweat forming on Richard Nixon's face during a public debate led to
his defeat in the ensuing presidential elections.
Powathil also referred to the "effective use of social media" behind Narendra
Modi's election as Prime Minister. "It has now become common for the media to
influence votes by conducting surveys and publishing results," he wrote, before
focusing on Charlie Hebdo.
"Breaking idols is a fun to many. Offending what others see worshipfully is
their favorite pastime.... If communities are hurt like this in the name of
freedom of expression, members of the community may react in their own style.
Media must understand this," Powathil said.
Powathil then moved to the "bar bribe case" that has been haunting the state's
ruling Congress-led UDF government and especially finance minister Mani.
Powathil said the "media shouldn't be the one's leveling the charge and judging
it as well. Many are asking if this is not what is happening in the bar bribe
case. They say there is something improper in continuously haunting a person
without the right evidence".
The minister has been accused by some bar owners of taking money in return for
permission to open their bars that were shut down following the state
government's amended liquor policy.
Powathil concludes his piece with a call for a limit on freedom of expression.
"It isn't right for media to take up trial and punishment.... Media should on
its own try to find limits to freedom of expression. Or those in power must set
the limits. If there is no limit to freedom of expression, the freedom to react
too will exceed limits," he warned. "That's the lesson media should learn from
Paris."
Source: Telegraph
