Like the cartoons in a Nordic country’s newspaper which were considered as offensive, the film is also in bad taste. It shows utter lack of consideration to the sentiments of the Muslims. Taken together, these two incidents – cartoons and the film- make out a strong case for reasonable restrictions on the freedom of speech.

Because every freedom brings with it certain responsibility and there can be no situation in a civilised world where freedom could be misused with impunity. Social media and new age communication tools like SMS and Internet mails have become instruments of spreading hate. It is necessary for the world body to move beyond mere condemnation of the acts that incite hate.

Though President Zardari made his observation in the context of the anti-Islam film, which, he said was “against the faith of Muslims of the world and Prophet Muhammad,” it applies equally to any act that shows disrespect to any religion of the world. There can be no disagreement with his plea to the international community that it must not become silent observer.

Failure to address the issue will be taken as license by mischievous individuals. Therefore such provocative acts should be treated as criminal offences across the board.  

As the Dawn observed editorially, the most important theme of the speeches delivered at the UN General Assembly this year was the growing divisions between the West and the Muslim world. Whatever be their national perspective, Presidents Ahmadinejad, Zardari and Obama all focused on the increasingly complicated relations between the two sides.

President Barack Obama who addressed the UN a few hours before Zardari spoke, urged the people to reject hate material. In an obvious reference to the violence that gripped some countries notably Pakistan in the wake of the anti-Islam film, he remarked, quite rightly, that the death and destruction that such hate material lead to could not be justified.

The task before the West and the Muslim world is simple and straightforward. The western countries, should give up their post-9/11 blinkered vision of Muslims of the world. They should become sensitive to the views and concerns above all sensitivities of the Muslims and stop treating the third world Muslim countries as basket cases for dole.  

On their part, the Muslim nations, and countries with a large Muslim population should educate their people against the dangers of letting emotions overtake them by acts of provocation from any quarter whether accidental or deliberate.  In this endeavour the moderates should be co-opted to spread the message of harmony and caution against the dangers of swaying to extremist narrative.  

This is a tall order. It will not yield instant results. But it is a campaign the world must undertake because, as President Zardari said in his address to the UN, the incitement of hatred breeds violence. And it disturbs world peace.