University Punishes Student Publication for Political Satire

FIRE reported Showing profound disregard for free speech and freedom of the press, Tufts University has found a conservative student publication guilty of harassment and creating a hostile environment for publishing political satire. Despite explicitly promising to protect controversial and offensive expression in its policies, the Tufts Committee on Student Life decided yesterday to punish the student publication The Primary Source (TPS) for printing two articles that offended African-American and Muslim students on campus.

The left does not understand satire, if it comes from the right. Last December, TPS published a satirical Christmas carol entitled “Oh Come All Ye Black Folk” and the ad they printed but were they really guilty of “targeting [black students] on the basis of their race, subjected them to ridicule and embarrassment, intimidating them, and having a deleterious impact on their growth and well-being on campus” or “targeting members of the Tufts Muslim community for harassment and embarrassment, and should Muslim students have felt psychologically intimidated by the piece”? Are Conservatives and Christians the only groups that can have satirical pieces run about them without fear of prosecution? Let us look specifically at the Muslim piece. Does it paint Islam in a nice light? No. Is it one-sided? Yes, but it was in response to a one-sided and overly rosy depiction of Islam during Islamic Awareness week. And a university is supposed to be able to freely explore all sides of something, not just the side the left considers to be politically correct. And let us look at each part of it and see if it is true.

Islam
Arabic Translation: Submission
In the Spirit of Islamic Awareness Week, the SOURCE presents an itinerary to supplement the educational experience.

MONDAY: “I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them.” – The Koran, Sura 8:12

The Koran certainly says that (they even provide a reference, and that is exactly what the Islamists are doing.

Author Salman Rushdie needed to go into hiding after Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeni declared a fatwa calling for his death for writing The Satanic Verses, which was declared “blasphemous against Islam.”

And he is not the only one to have such a fatwa declared against them, and some of those death sentences have been carried out.

TUESDAY: Slavery was an integral part of Islamic culture. Since the 7th century, 14 million African slaves were sold to Muslims compared to 10 or 11 million sold to the entire Western Hemisphere. As recently as 1878, 25,000 slaves were sold annually in Mecca and Medina. (National Review 2002)

True

The seven nations in the world that punish homosexuality with death all have fundamentalist Muslim governments.

True

WEDNESDAY: In Saudi Arabia, women make up 5% of the workforce, the smallest percentage of any nation worldwide. They are not allowed to operate a motor vehicle or go outside without proper covering of their body. (Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2001)

True

Most historians agree that Muhammed’s second wife Aisha was 9 years old when their marriage was consummated.

True, and she was either 6 or 7 when he married her. See the hadith collection Muslims consider most reliable, Bukhari:

• 5.48.234
• 5.58.236
• 7.62.64
• 7.62.65
• 7.62.88

And that is not just an eighth century thing. Article 1041 of the Civil Code of the Islamic Republic of Iran states that girls can be engaged before the age of nine, and married at nine: “Marriage before puberty (nine full lunar years for girls) is prohibited. Marriage contracted before reaching puberty with the permission of the guardian is valid provided that the interests of the ward are duly observed.” The Ayatollah Khomeini himself married a ten-year-old girl when he was twenty-eight. Khomeini called marriage to a prepubescent girl “a divine blessing,” and advised the faithful: “Do your best to ensure that your daughters do not see their first blood in your house.”

THURSDAY: “Not equal are those believers who sit and receive no hurt, and those who strive and fight in the cause of Allah with their goods and their persons. Allah hath granted a grade higher to those who strive and fight with their goods and persons than to those who sit. Unto all Hath Allah promised good: But those who strive and fight Hath He distinguished above those who sit by a special reward.” – The Koran, Sura 4:95

True.

The Islamist guerrillas in Iraq are not only killing American soldiers fighting for freedom. They are also responsible for the vast majority of civilian casualties.

Mostly Muslims.

FRIDAY: Ibn Al-Ghazzali, the famous Islamic theologian, said, “The most satisfying and final word on the matter is that marriage is form of slavery. The woman is man’s slave and her duty therefore is absolute obedience to the husband in all that he asks of her person.”

Why are the feminists not outraged about this.

Mohamed Hadfi, 31, tore out his 23-year-old wife Samira Bari’s eyes in their apartment in the southern French city of Nimes in July 2003 following a heated argument about her refusal to have sex with him. (Herald Sun)

I did not see that report, but they did reference where it was reported.

If you are a peaceful Muslim who can explain or justify this astonishingly intolerant and inhuman behavior, we’d really like to hear from you! Please send all letters to tuftsprimarysource@gmail.com.

Stop the ACLU blogged Truth is no defence at Tufts, it seems.

Michelle Malkin blogged Sharia creep on campus. There are many fronts in the war against global jihad and the fight against dhimmitude.

Weasel Zipper blogged At Tufts in Boston, a group of conservative students published a counterpoint article to offset the rosy view of Islam being depicted during Islamic Awareness Week. Their article highlighted the bigotry and violence associated with the Koran.

What was the reaction to their counterpoint? Charges of harassment, and a guilty verdict by a panel of faculty and fellow students. Free speech is not tolerated at the majority of Universities if it differs from their extreme left wing ideology.

Gaius blogged Welcome to the brave new Inquisition. One presumes Tufts will immediately change its name to something more fitting. Torquemada University fits nicely - and they wouldn't even have to change the monograms! Bonus.