In a post earlier this morning featuring the fireworks between Sean Hannity of Fox News and a radical Muslim cleric from London named Anjem Choudary, we had a brief mention of Choudary’s USA Today op-ed where he asked why “did the French government allow the magazine Charlie Hebdo to continue to provoke Muslims, thereby placing the sanctity of its citizens at risk?”
Allow.
In other words, USA Today allowed Choudary to freely express himself to readers around the world in order to espouse his hatred of free expression.
This contradiction wasn’t missed by many who are asking why USAT gave this guy a platform at all:
Anjem Choudary writes op-ed stating Muslims do not believe in freedom of expression: http://t.co/6An8tLXXZT – How ironic!
— Myles Dyer (@MylesDyer) January 8, 2015
In their very own words – "Islam doesn't mean peace, it means submission." Why don't we non Muslims listen to them? http://t.co/qMX1aqC7e6
— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) January 8, 2015
Uh oh, Mr. Anjem Choudray. You are looking chic, sir. Stop being such a douche. http://t.co/0ZmtR3FpO7 pic.twitter.com/22hAVWuk4m
— Lamewad (@lamewad) January 8, 2015
A huge FO to Anjem Choudary 'People know the consequences: Opposing view' http://t.co/wAoKDv38tw via @usatoday
— PhilipGlanville (@PhilipGlanville) January 8, 2015
Wow, er, this USA Today op-ed: “Why did France allow the tabloid to provoke Muslims?” http://t.co/9AxEjFI2iR
— Blake News (@blakehounshell) January 8, 2015
Shame on you @USAtoday for giving this radical Muslim a platform… http://t.co/eLB6wvooWh
— JIM LOCKWOOD SHOW (@jimlockwoodshow) January 8, 2015
Although there is a counter argument to be made that USAT did the right thing by giving Choudary with enough proverbial rope to hang himself:
Excellent. USA Today gives @anjemchoudary some rope, and he duly hangs himself with it. Repugnant man. http://t.co/rSNwhvbFCy
— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) January 8, 2015
If you doubt that there are influential people who think like this, and who truly hate Anglo-American liberty, voila: http://t.co/rSNwhvbFCy
— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) January 8, 2015
I'm glad USA Today published Choudary's fascist screed; people need to see the bare face of jihadist Islam: http://t.co/zkdbEoZSMo
— Phineas Fahrquar (@irishspy) January 8, 2015
I, for one, appreciate @anjemchoudary laying out precisely how his ideology is incompatible with the 21st Century http://t.co/NXhdtmub82
— RBe (@RBPundit) January 8, 2015
This @USATOpinion op-ed shows that freedom of expression belongs even to those who reject that freedom: http://t.co/8dnWd8hEqM
— Gregory Korte (@gregorykorte) January 8, 2015
Maybe USA Today performed a public service in publishing Anjem Choudary, and Sean Hannity in broadcasting him. http://t.co/6LXrdaFEOS
— Ed Morrissey (@EdMorrissey) January 8, 2015
As far as USA Today is concerned, they seem quite pleased with the controversy they’ve created:
RT @lauramandaro Heated Twitter discussion going about @USATODAY decision to run column by radical Muslim cleric. http://t.co/f5HhM8x1N6
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) January 8, 2015
Keep clicking, Tweeps.
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Related:
Twitchy coverage of Charlie Hebdo
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