Russia's Grand Mufti says freedom of expression must have limits
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 23 January 2015 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Russia's Grand Mufti says freedom of expression must have limits, 23 January 2015, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/54e1a4146.html [accessed 5 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
January 23, 2015
By RFE/RL's Tatar-Bashkir Service
MOSCOW – Russia's Grand Mufti Ravil Gainutdin says freedom of expression must have its limits.
Talking to RFE/RL on January 22, Gainutdin said that Russia's Muslims support democracy, but added that freedom of expression does not mean that anyone "can say anything about anything anywhere."
Gainutdin cited such Tatar proverbs as "A word can cure and a word can kill," and "A physical injury can heal, but an injury caused by words cannot."
He said that cartoons of Prophet Muhammad published by the French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo were "an attempt to damage the spiritual strength of the almost 2 billion Muslims of the world."
"If some words can damage humans spiritually, such words must be avoided," Gainutdin said.
Earlier this week, Gainutdin attended a large rally in the Chechen capital, Grozny, where he condemned both the cartoons and the jihadist attack against Charlie Hebdo in Paris in which 12 people were killed.
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
