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.