Q&A: Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Kate Tempest debate definition of free speech

The definition of free speech and its link to religion was debated by a panel including Ayaan Hirsi Ali | WATCH

The definition of free speech, and its relationship to religion in a liberal society, was debated by five international writers and commentators on last night’s Q&A, which featured a panel of authors converging in Sydney for the city’s annual writers festival.

The discussion began after a questioner asked the panel about the recent controversy surrounding German TV star Jan Boehmermann, who is being prosecuted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan over an obscene satirical poem.

“Should satirical artists have legal obligations and responsibilities? I personally think that, no, not at all,” began London rapper and poet Kate Tempest. “I think that that would be a very dangerous place for an artist to be in.”

What role do you think art should be playing in contemporary society? @katetempest responds #QandA https://t.co/5a3baobSeh

— ABC Q&A (@QandA) May 16, 2016

The debate quickly turned to the question of whether this freedom of expression for artists extended to activists and social commentators, particularly when discussing and critiquing religion.

Somalian feminist and author Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a well-known champion of free speech who often draws criticism for her views about the violence and misogyny she sees as inherent in Islamic culture, said she believed we should move away from the term “insult” and move towards a fresh way of thinking about free speech.

“Let’s take the Muslim community in France or any other part of Europe. If I want to address the jihadists and I want to talk about jihad, if I want to talk about Islamic law, I think that Islamic law is deplorable,” said Ms Hirsi Ali. “Am I insulting to the Muslim if I say that or am I engaging the Muslim in a conversation what about these things mean in practice? If you believe that homosexuals should be put to death for homosexuality we about that, is that offensive to Muslims? It is not. I think we should totally and completely move away from - when discussing beliefs and doctrines and traditions versus human beings, we should move away from such terminology as “insults”. I do not insult Muslims by questioning Islamic law. I honour them with reason.”

Don't use violence, use critical thinking and question their logic, says @Ayaan #QandA https://t.co/venTz2ROh2

— ABC Q&A (@QandA) May 16, 2016

Throughout the show, the discussion continued to return to Islam and the global responses to acts of terror in Europe and other parts of the world.

A young man asked the panel: “Each time there’s an act by the extremists of violence or misogyny, there’s often a debate surrounding the majority calling them out to act and referring them as guilty by silence. Do you think this is fair, to call upon the peaceful majority to condemn these acts?”

“Criticising even the base and the principles of the religion is a right,” said the French author and co-founder of Doctors Without Borders, Jean-Christophe Rufin. “It is a perfect and total right to criticise the church, criticise the Koran, criticise any religion... But, I persist to say that in societies like ours… insulting is useless. Insulting is dangerous.”

"Insulting is useless. Insulting is dangerous" says Jean-Christophe Rufin on criticising Islam #QandA https://t.co/YU8dX72Fyc

— ABC Q&A (@QandA) May 16, 2016

Former adviser to the US military in Iraq Emma Sky agreed with Rufin: “Freedom of speech is critical. But then that doesn’t include the freedom to incite violence because when you allow hate speech, that leads to people being killed and we have seen that.”

When a video questioner accused Ms Hirsi Ali of making life harder for Muslim women agency and being a voice for “right-wing Conservatives” who would otherwise be labelled as racists, she defended her view that free speech should allow her to criticise religion.

Why do you make life more difficult for Muslim women in both western & Muslim countries? @Ayaan #QandA https://t.co/RBALU24gYQ

— ABC Q&A (@QandA) May 16, 2016

“To have these kind of conversations and debates with Muslims is to see them as equals, to see them as individuals endowed with reason and it’s the same kind of critical conversation you would have with Christians, with Jews, with Buddhists, with Marxists a while back and with - in Nazi Germany and afterwards with white supremacists who believe in national socialism,” she said. “Do not exempt Muslims from that kind of critical dialogue. Do not subject them to the bigotry of world expectations.”

Kate Tempest performs her poem 'Progress' to close tonight's #QandA https://t.co/yBIeKftlZZ

— ABC Q&A (@QandA) May 16, 2016

Read more from Ayaan Hirsi Ali:

COMMENT: Deradicalisation programs must resist militantcy

OPINION: Why Islam needs a reformation

INTERVIEW: Beyond burka wars