To the editor:
We are writing on behalf of the Brown Muslim Students' Association to voice our deep concerns regarding the controversial cartoon depicting the caricature of Prophet Muhammad that was published in The Herald Feb. 7. We do not know whether this offense was intentional, and we understand the potentially conciliatory message behind the cartoon. In fact, most of our members would even agree with what the cartoon is saying. However, the alarm in the MSA resulted from the actual depiction of the Prophet. The general Islamic view regarding pictorial representations of the Prophet is that they are sacrilegious.
In a world where hatred and intolerance plague our societies, Brown gives us a haven in which diversity is honored. One of the greatest examples of this is the way in which the queer community is respected and safe in a largely homophobic and prejudiced society. The actions of the The Herald in printing this cartoon have stripped us of this safety and have left many of us feeling betrayed. Like The Herald, we too are strong advocates of free speech. However, we find it difficult to accept this privilege as a justification for unnecessary offense.
Not only does this offend Muslims here, but it will also have an influence on prospective students. Muslims are currently under-represented in this otherwise well-supported multicultural community. We feel that this disrespectful attitude allowed by the The Herald will only exacerbate this problem. Muslim parents and students alike will be less likely to consider a school where their religious beliefs are disrespected.
We write to the students of Brown for their support at a time like this. We hope that we can together work to uphold Brown's longstanding commitment to an environment of mutual respect.
Lamia Khan '08, PresidentYoussef Garcia-Bengochea '08, Vice-PresidentSaad Yousuf '08, Public Relations OfficialBrown Muslim Students' AssociationFeb. 9
