//beconfused

(Freedom of expression go to hell!)

This is probably the most ironic protestor you’ll ever meet. He says no to freedom of expression. I don’t think he actually understands what that is.

Further reading reveals this protestor upset over the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy. It depicted the Islamic prophet Muhammad, were published in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten on September 30, 2005. The newspaper announced that this publication was an attempt to contribute to the debate regarding criticism of Islam and self-censorship. Danish Muslim organizations, who objected to the depictions, responded by holding public protests attempting to raise awareness of Jyllands-Posten’s publication. The controversy deepened when further examples of the cartoons were reprinted in newspapers in more than fifty other countries. (So of course, I shan’t be posting an image of the controversial cartoons.) The poster behind writes ‘kill those who insult the prophet’. (My source is once again Wikipedia)

In Singapore, we don’t really have as much freedom of expression as the United States too. We can’t just stage a protest without getting a licence - yes, you need a licence to stage a protest in Singapore. During the IMF World Bank Conference, protests are allowed in a conference room because all outdoor protests are prohibited. I shall quote Gems Sty guide to how to stage a protest in Singapore.

During the IMF World Bank Conference, the protestors are handed out guidelines to follow. It looks like this:

Some Do�??s and Don�??ts when using the designated area

Please observe these do�??s and don�??ts when using the designated area so as to ensure as little disruption as possible to other activities taking place in Suntec Singapore.

• Do: Keep both your IMF/WB and designated area passes visible at all times.
• Do: Keep the noise to an acceptable level. For this reason, sound amplification systems should not be used.
• Do: Be appropriately attired at all times and respect the cultural sensitivities of all participants to the Annual Meetings.
• Do: Keep all activities within the designated area
• Do: Keep the designated area free of food or drinks.
• Do: Avoid moving any of the barricades marking out the designated area.
• Don�??t: Burn anything as part of the gathering.
• Don�??t: Display anything or behave in a manner that would:
  1. Provoke a breach of the peace;
  2. Cause alarm or distress;
  3. Offend religious or racial/ethnic sensitivities; or
  4. Be prejudicial to the security of Singapore.

Due to safety concerns for persons in Suntec Singapore, we will not allow certain items to be brought into Suntec Singapore. Such items include wooden and metal poles or wooden cut-outs. Upon request and subject to availability, substitute materials will be made available to hold up banners and placards.

Also, you cannot just speak in the public and gather an audience, you will need to do that in a special Speaker’s Corner.

Yeah, so not much freedom in Singapore. And by the way, Singapore is among the safest countries around.

As for religion, Singapore Population of Census 2000 shows:

Buddhism and Taoism, which were traditional Chinese religions, jointly accounted for 51 per cent of the resident population aged 15 years and above in 2000 compared with 54 per cent in 1990. The main shift had been from Taoism to Buddhism among the Chinese. The proportion of Muslims and Hindus remained relatively unchanged at 15 per cent and 4 per cent respectively.

The shift towards Christianity continued but the increase in proportion of Christians was very gradual - from 10 per cent in 1980 to 13 per cent in 1990 and 15 per cent in 2000. The increase was among the better-educated Chinese who were more inclined towards Christianity.

Source: Singapore Infomap

Singapore exhibit good religious tolerance. It’s kinda like you serve your own God, I serve mine; we may try to convert each other but respect for each other’s religion must still be present. After all, religion is still quite a sensitive issue.

Jehovah’s Witnesses (a Christian group) is disallowed practice in Singapore as it opposed to the current two-year mandatory military service (conscription). In the 1980s, Singapore “advised” Christian evangelists to stop distribution of Christian materials in Malay language. Most of the local Malays are Muslims and some Christians are trying to convert over the Muslims. Then-Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew condemned “insensitive evangelization” as a serious threat to racial harmony. (More information on Religions in Singapore.)

[via Digg]

Tags: cartoon, christianity, muslim, national service, newspaper, picture, politics, religion, singapore, talk, terrorism