Press freedom and cartoons
Editorial, The Herald Sun, Feb 7 2006
PUBLICATION overseas of newspaper cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed
deeply offended Muslims.
The drawings were first published in a Danish newspaper and have since
been reprinted in newspapers in Germany, France, Norway and New
Zealand.
These newspapers have claimed they did so as an issue of free expression.
The president of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils wants the
Federal Government to prevent publication here.
But governments here lack such power and the Howard Government
yesterday properly declined to pressure newspapers.
Freedom of the press is a vital element of our democracy.
Thus, like other newspapers in Australia, the Herald Sun is free to make its
own decisions about what it publishes.
In this case we exercised this right and decided not to print the cartoons.
There was no pressure on the Herald Sun from the federal or any other
government, nor from the corporate sector. Ours was a routine editorial
decision.
First, the cartoons were poorly drawn and unfunny, which in itself was
sufficient reason to reject them.
Second, they could be interpreted by sensitive Muslims as holding the prophet
Mohammed up to ridicule. The Herald Sun has strict rules on vilification.
Finally, given the Muslim community's sensitivity overseas and here it would
have been irresponsible to publish them.
After seeing embassies burned down overseas it was clear publication in
Australia could have provoked hotheads.
Nonetheless, the violent reaction of Muslim extremists, out of all proportion to
the offence, does them no credit.
The Herald Sun is not afraid to fight for press freedom. Most recently, two of
our journalists have been prepared to go to jail to defend it.
But we remain convinced that our decision was the right one and that
publication of the controversial cartoons is not necessary to demonstrate
freedom of the press.