“Whatever happened to freedom of expression?” What indeed? This is what happened to freedom of expression: Islamic jihadists began threatening to murder, and actually murdering, those who exercised it in a way they considered to be offensive to Islam. And suddenly the entire once-free West gained a new respect for Islam and willingness to adhere to Sharia blasphemy laws. For there is absolutely no doubt whatsoever that Nabil Mousa’s sculpture was judged too controversial and turned down not because of the burned Torah or New Testament, but because of the burned Qur’an, and only because of the burned Qur’an. The whole world is cowering in fear before these bloodthirsty assassins, not realizing or not caring about the fact that their cowering is only going to encourage the assassins to be even more bloodthirsty and demanding.
“Sculpture with burned Bible,Torah, and Quran banned from competition,” by Kaitlyn S Ross and Julie Wolfe, WXIA, September 17, 2015:
ATLANTA — An Atlanta artist is frustrated after his sculpture about 9/11 was turned down from a national competition for being too controversial.
It was a miscommunication between the city where the competition is held, and the curators who judge the competition. The piece was approved by the curators to be displayed at City Hall in Grand Rapids, Michigan for ArtPrize, an annual competition. But when the city saw it, they thought it was far too controversial to be in city hall. It is a provocative piece called “Paradise Built on the Bones of the Slaughtered.”
It shows the twin towers and then the burned religious scripts of the Torah, Quran, and Bible.
Atlanta artist Nabil Mousa says it’s influenced by his upbringing.
“Being born in Syria I grew up around all 3 religions, Christianity, Islam, and Judaism,” he said.
Raised as a Christian, he said the sculpture is meant to question what people do in the name of religion.
“When you look at 9/11 and you look at this sculpture, you have to think, how can someone commit these atrocities in the name of God and think that God is on their side,” he said.
He knew some people would take offense to the sculpture, but didn’t think it should be banned outright.
“Whatever happened to freedom of expression? Art is supposed to be a way for us to express ourselves and be able to do it without judgment, without censorship,” he said….