• Why Jihad Watch?
  • About Robert Spencer and Staff Writers
  • FAQ
  • Books
  • Muhammad
  • Islam 101
  • Privacy

Jihad Watch

Exposing the role that Islamic jihad theology and ideology play in the modern global conflicts

Robert Spencer in FrontPage: Rutgers Goes Sharia-Compliant

Apr 28, 2016 12:57 pm By Robert Spencer

In FrontPage this morning I discuss Rutgers’ capitulation to Sharia supremacism:

rutgers3

The April 5, 2016 issue of The Gleaner, the student paper of Rutgers University–Camden, published a cartoon of Muhammad, Buddha and Jesus in a bar. Its content, however, cannot be known at this point, because at the behest of Muslims on campus, and in a case fraught with implications for the health of the freedom of speech today, the entire issue has been deep-sixed.

Two weeks after the cartoon was published, the April 19 issue of The Gleaner contained a letter from the Muslim Brotherhood campus group, the Muslim Students Association, saying that it found the image offensive and asking The Gleaner to remove the image from the April 5 issue and circulate a new edition of that issue without it. The MSA letter claims that Christians and Jews on campus told MSA members that they, too, found the image offensive.

The MSA letter states: “Even though freedom of speech and press is emphasized and is something all of us value as proud Americans, the University prides itself on diversity of people of different faith and backgrounds so we feel that it is necessary to respect those faiths and backgrounds by honoring their beliefs.”

The April 19 Gleaner also contains a response to the MSA letter, written by Christopher Church, the Editor-in-Chief of The Gleaner. Church apologizes to the MSA and agrees to meet with it “so that we can rectify this issue and ensure that it doesn’t happen again.” He also agrees to remove any copies of the offending April 5 issue from the Gleaner boxes around campus and destroy them.

The Jihad Watch reader who alerted me to this sums up what is wrong here:

1. Freedom of speech is a Constitutional right. It is not negated by someone’s taking offense. This could have been and should have been a chance for Rutgers and The Gleaner to explain why the freedom of speech must be protected as our fundamental bulwark against tyranny, and why that means that we must all learn to put up with material that offends us.

2. Once a group’s feeling offended is taken as decisive, it may begin to take offense at other aspects of campus life it finds offensive. In the MSA’s case, it may begin getting offended at men and women sharing classrooms or coeds wearing tight jeans on campus.

3. In light of the violent attacks on those who have depicted Muhammad, The Gleaner by removing the image is bowing to the implicit threat of violence — which only in the long run encourages more violence. Rutgers’ Art Library recently featured an “artwork” depicting Jesus on a dartboard. It was ultimately removed, but not because it offended Christians. No one cares if Christians are offended: Rutgers officials know that offended Christians won’t murder them. Their solicitousness toward the MSA, by contrast, reveals that they know offended Muslims might very well kill them, and rather than stand up for the freedom of speech and against this kind of bullying, they signal their willingness to surrender and fall into line, accepting Sharia restrictions on speech.

Imagine how Rutgers would react if its Art Library had displayed, instead of this Jesus-on-a-dartboard “artwork,” a cartoon of Muhammad. The air would have been thick with cries of “Islamophobia.” Fragile Leftist students would be running for their safe spaces. The university would be instituting mandatory seminars designed to inculcate the proper “respect” that one must show for “The Other” so as to avoid charges of “racism” and “bigotry.”

The double standard is stark: Jesus crucified on a dartboard is art – and what’s more, it’s courageous. One Rutgers student chortled on Facebook that the dartboard “art” was “hilarious,” and crowed that “we don’t have to cater to the wills of the Church or any denomination of Christianity or religion.” Those who complained would be admonished: Don’t you respect the freedom of expression, you right-wing bigot?

A cartoon of Muhammad, on the other hand, even one as innocuous as the one in The Gleaner appears to have been — that’s an outrage. No one was crowing in that instance about not having to cater to the wills of the mosque. On the contrary, the message was clear: Don’t you respect Muslims as human beings, you right-wing bigot?

This is the kind of “respect” being irrationally violent will win you. Rutgers officials knew that Christians weren’t going to kill them, and that they could mock Christianity with impunity. They would only start blathering about “respect” when it comes to Islam. This respect won at the point of a sword does not bode well for the future of free expression in the West.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

Follow me on Facebook

Filed Under: academia, dhimmitude, Featured, free speech, Muslim Students Association, Robert Spencer Tagged With: Rutgers


Learn more about RevenueStripe...

Comments

  1. Christianblood says

    Apr 28, 2016 at 1:02 pm

    Holy shit!

    Isn’t this the same university that a few days was using Jesus’ image as a target practice?
    And now it is going Sharia Compliant? What is going on here?

    • Angemon says

      Apr 28, 2016 at 1:27 pm

      Your false surprise and fake ignorance are not convincing at all:

      https://www.jihadwatch.org/2016/04/rutgers-student-paper-complies-with-msas-demand-destroys-all-copies-of-issue-containing-muhammad-cartoon#comment-1424800

      https://www.jihadwatch.org/2016/04/rutgers-displays-artwork-of-christ-crucified-on-a-dartboard-christians-worldwide-riot-no-wait#comment-1424448

      • Christianblood says

        Apr 28, 2016 at 6:13 pm

        Angemon

        Your meaningless rant should be directed at “Rutgers” who are using Jesus’ image as a target practice while at the same time praising islam and going sharee’a compliant. Or you also share their anti-Christ values? Will you also use Jesus’ image as a target practice your self? Given your obvious hatred for Christianity, I am sure you will.

        • Shane says

          Apr 29, 2016 at 10:51 am

          ON the plus side, I am surprised that students at an AMerican college even contemplated putting Mo’s image in their newspaper!

        • Angemon says

          Apr 30, 2016 at 8:44 am

          Christianblood posted:

          “Angemon

          Your meaningless rant”

          Pointing out that you were aware of this story and are now, for whatever reason, feigning surprise is a “rant”?

          “should be directed at “Rutgers””

          Because you apparently are the arbiter of whom I should direct what at.

          “ who are using Jesus’ image as a target practice”

          They’re not. And you should know this very well.

          “while at the same time praising islam”

          Where is that said?

          “and going sharee’a compliant. Or you also share their anti-Christ values?”

          They’re “anti-Christ” now?

          “Will you also use Jesus’ image as a target practice your self? Given your obvious hatred for Christianity, I am sure you will.”

          Lol! Baseless accusations of a Western – and especially US – hating fearmonger! My record with, and thoughts about, Christianity are well known to posters on this board, and I certainly don’t remember any single one of them, including Christians, accusing me of being anti-Christian. Much to the contrary, I remember people here thanking me for setting the record straight when moronic users showed they had no knowledge of Christian doctrine. Where were you then? Oh, yeah, spreading anti-Western propaganda.

          As far as I can remember, you’re the first person here accusing me of hatred of Christianity, and you’re doing so not as the conclusion of a rational, logic-based deduction but simply as a tool to divert attention from your own nasty record, like a monkey throwing feces.

          No, you were well aware of this story, as I proved above, and your false surprise and fake ignorance are not convincing at all.

    • Bob says

      Apr 29, 2016 at 10:23 am

      A campus to be avoided by any reasonable person!

  2. Davegreybeard says

    Apr 28, 2016 at 1:27 pm

    The very same University at which the Obama is scheduled to deliver a commencement address – makes one wonder if there is some connection.

  3. gerald says

    Apr 28, 2016 at 1:29 pm

    I take offense to schools bowing down to sharia and installing prayer rooms specifically for Islamic prayer. Who are they to force our institutions to accommodate their religiosity needs when the needs of other religions are governed by the separation of church and state? Who are they to impose their sharia law on anyone else other than themselves?

    • Ian H says

      Apr 28, 2016 at 7:10 pm

      Many universities also have a chapel. That really isn’t the issue.

  4. DFD says

    Apr 28, 2016 at 1:44 pm

    Being from Europe I have a question please: Was there perhaps a misreading, i.e., that it is ‘Camden Madressa’ and not ‘Camden University’?

    Could be the sign at the entrance is in Arabic…

    • mortimer says

      Apr 28, 2016 at 2:03 pm

      Separate lecture rooms using closed-circuit televisions will be enforced next week for women only. Men only will attend the lecture room with the prof.

      All women on campus are ordered immediately to start dressing modestly or the campus police will send them home.

  5. mortimer says

    Apr 28, 2016 at 1:51 pm

    MSA letter: “…we feel that it is necessary to respect those faiths and backgrounds by honoring their beliefs”

    Beliefs such as these beliefs of classical Islam: …slavery; no Golden Rule; no free speech; no democracy; jihad – holy war of supremacism; honour killings; taqiyya – sacred lying; taqlid – group think; misogyny – repression of women; rape of kafirs as jihad; genocide; ethnic cleansing; al-walaa wal-baraa – Islamic apartheid; torture; plundering; cruel and unusual punishments; stagnation and backwardness; violence against women; discriminatory Sharia law; hatred of the arts; pedophilia disguised as child marriage; fifty generations of cousin marriage and genetic defects; cruelty to animals; extortion tax to humiliate disbelievers; no historic basis; anti-intellectual obscurantism; FGM; Arab racism; theocratic totalitarianism; vigilantism.

    Does Rutgers ‘honor’ the previous beliefs?

  6. mortimer says

    Apr 28, 2016 at 1:54 pm

    Heckler’s Veto Definition: -“A heckler’s veto is an IMPERMISSIBLE content-based RESTRICTION on speech where the speech is prohibited due to an ANTICIPATED DISORDERLY or VIOLENT reaction of the audience.” – Justice Sloviter

    Rutgers approves the Heckler’s Veto.

  7. PRCS says

    Apr 28, 2016 at 2:10 pm

    Is this the cartoon?

    http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=jesus%2c+muhammad+and+bhudda+in+a+bar&view=detailv2&&id=FA2BBDF538B5B13FBE7AB9DBD11E050127888280&selectedIndex=0&ccid=rS5nmJV%2b&simid=607995090360601178&thid=OIP.Mad2e6798957eab28e3d130ef92ec1067o0&ajaxhist=0

    If so, pass it around.

  8. Custos Custodum says

    Apr 28, 2016 at 2:46 pm

    One Rutgers student chortled on Facebook that the dartboard “art” was “hilarious,” and crowed that “we don’t have to cater to the wills of the Church or any denomination …”

    So his parents are paying $60,000 a year for remedial literacy classes? Apart from thinking that “will” is a countable noun, our intellectual Titan seems a tad vague about the terms “Church” and “denomination.”

  9. Champ says

    Apr 28, 2016 at 2:52 pm

    Rutgers Goes Sharia-Compliant

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    And sets a dangerous and bad precedent …

    • linnte says

      Apr 28, 2016 at 5:17 pm

      You used my exact words in my email to Rutgers paper Champ. Once a precedent is set, ain’t no goin’ back.

  10. Wellington says

    Apr 28, 2016 at 5:13 pm

    When Islam advances, freedom retreats. I wonder what percentage of students at Rutgers, whether at the New Brunswick, Camden or Newark campus, know this or even care. Sadly, I believe it would not be a high percentage———but it should be.

  11. David says

    Apr 28, 2016 at 6:30 pm

    I have ZERO respect for islam and it’s very satanic followers. Respect must be earned. You can’t gain it my rape, murder or suicide bombing!
    When muslims turn away from their evil, vile and satanic teachers, then, maybe they just might begin to turn peoples attitude’s around!
    Until that day arrives, (say a thousand years from now?) I will offer no respect at all.

  12. Just A Concerned Citizen says

    Apr 28, 2016 at 7:51 pm

    My favorite ex-girlfriend attended Rutgers. When visiting her on campus at New Brunswick (this would have been 2011-2012ish), I recall noting just how ubiquitous hijabs were, and how the underground study hall area that was a favorite of hers had been partitioned to accommodate Muslim prayer time.

    Not as though it was a posted declaration or anything, but it seemed the entire student body understood that this area was more or less off limits to infidels. In response, every chance I could, I’d playfully tug her back into that area to give/receive a smooch. Least I could do.

  13. Ann says

    Apr 28, 2016 at 8:42 pm

    “Even though freedom of speech and press is emphasized and is something all of us value as proud Americans”…………….

    We are proud Muslims first and foremost.

  14. Dan Jones says

    Apr 28, 2016 at 8:59 pm

    More bowing down to the followers of the pedophile…

    More End Times News At:
    http://www.shininginthedark.com/?page_id=7760

  15. Heather says

    Apr 28, 2016 at 10:07 pm

    Money IS the root of all evil so it says in the Bible. Saudi money is evil. You don’t bow down to bullies, you stand up to them until they back down like the cowards they are. Christianity is the exact opposite of that madeup crap they call Islam, moongod worshippers. I’d like to tell them to stick Mo, Alla and that koran rubbish you know where.

  16. Mubarak says

    Apr 29, 2016 at 4:31 am

    Mocking Christ is a theme that has already been played out in the passion story. The mocking was born in silence and provoked the words “Ecce Homo!” from Pilate. Later on the cross Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
    If anything shows the difference and distance from Christianity to Islam, this does!
    Crucified in weakness but raised in power is the ultimate offense, especially to Muslims. We should exhibit this theme to Muslims instead of cartoons of Mohammed. By contrast this will reveal Islam for what it really is: A heaven and subterfuge for human pride, resentment, hate and revenge ultimately resulting in terror.

    • Rachel says

      Apr 29, 2016 at 8:11 pm

      “Forgive them for they know not what they do,” is correct. Your quote is not correct.

      • Mubarak says

        May 2, 2016 at 1:02 am

        http://biblehub.com/luke/23-34.htm – NIV

        What’s the point of discussing translations in this context?

        (heaven = haven)

    • gravenimage says

      May 28, 2016 at 9:49 pm

      The repulsive Mubarak wrote:

      Mocking Christ is a theme that has already been played out in the passion story. The mocking was born in silence and provoked the words “Ecce Homo!” from Pilate. Later on the cross Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
      If anything shows the difference and distance from Christianity to Islam, this does!
      Crucified in weakness but raised in power is the ultimate offense, especially to Muslims. We should exhibit this theme to Muslims instead of cartoons of Mohammed. By contrast this will reveal Islam for what it really is: A heaven and subterfuge for human pride, resentment, hate and revenge ultimately resulting in terror.
      ………………..

      This *sounds* reasonably Anti-Jihadist, but it is anything but. Mubarak knows that while Christians admire this sort of forgiveness, that Muslims consider it nothing but weakness.

      And here’s the real nub: note that Mubarak says that we should laud Christ’s model of forgiveness *instead* of “cartoons of Mohammed.”

      In other words, we should push Christians to forgive Muslims anything, and never be allowed to criticize the horrific violence of Islam.

      And why should this surprise? Mubarak has many time lauded his fellow Muslims raping Western Infidels, and has said that if we are true Christians we should let in floods more rapefugees as a form of ‘atonement’.

      Ugly, ugly stuff.

  17. Mubarak says

    Apr 29, 2016 at 5:44 am

    “heaven” = haven

  18. Hope says

    Apr 29, 2016 at 9:50 am

    I sent an email to the editor of the Gleaner, Chris Church. It was a polite letter attempting to educate him about Sharia blasphemy laws and the urgent need to preserve our First Amendment rights. I told him his decision to acquiese to the MSA (a.k.a. the Muslim Brotherhood) was “a very serious and dangerous error.”

    I would encourage everyone to write, call or email anytime you see an opportunity to educate people about islam. Many people still do not know the truth because the media and the government want us to go along quietly. If we can chip away at the willfull ignorance around us, we can change things.

  19. Carol says

    Apr 29, 2016 at 12:25 pm

    This Jersey Girl is mortified and embarrassed! Rutgers – how dare you???? Our state was one of the leaders in the Revolutionary War. I was proud that we didn’t capitulate to the Brits. What the hell has happened?

  20. Sam says

    Apr 29, 2016 at 3:29 pm

    Freedom of speech has nothing to do with one’s feelings being hurt or not. Freedom of speech is freedom of speech. Freedom of speech also means freedom of not to listen if you don’t want to hear what is being said.

    We are giving away our freedom so easily without knowing what the f**** is going on, it is amazing.

    Give it to Muslims. They use freedom of speech beautifully to shut sown freedom of speech about Islam in America and in the world. Takiya is working full force. ALLAH IS PROVING THAT HE IS THE BEST TRICKSTER.

FacebookYoutubeTwitterLog in

Subscribe to the Jihad Watch Daily Digest

You will receive a daily mailing containing links to the stories posted at Jihad Watch in the last 24 hours.
Enter your email address to subscribe.

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!
If you are forwarding to a friend, please remove the unsubscribe buttons first, as they my accidentally click it.

Subscribe to all Jihad Watch posts

You will receive immediate notification.
Enter your email address to subscribe.
Note: This may be up to 15 emails a day.

Donate to JihadWatch
FrontPage Mag

Search Site

Translate

The Team

Robert Spencer in FrontPageMag
Robert Spencer in PJ Media

Articles at Jihad Watch by
Robert Spencer
Hugh Fitzgerald
Christine Douglass-Williams
Andrew Harrod
Jamie Glazov
Daniel Greenfield

Contact Us

Terror Attacks Since 9/11

Archives

  • 2020
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2019
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2018
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2017
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2016
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2015
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2014
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2013
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2012
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2011
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2010
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2009
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2008
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2007
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2006
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2005
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2004
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2003
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • March

All Categories

You Might Like

Learn more about RevenueStripe...

Recent Comments

  • iconoclast123 on India: Police make first arrest for ‘love jihad’ under new law
  • gravenimage on Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, France and UAE conduct joint military exercises amid rising Turkish threat
  • Brando on New study reveals that Muslim religiosity strongly linked to hatred towards the West
  • gravenimage on Audio: Robert Spencer on Muslim Brotherhood influence in a Biden/Harris administration
  • Boycott Turkey on New study reveals that Muslim religiosity strongly linked to hatred towards the West

Popular Categories

dhimmitude Sharia Jihad in the U.S ISIS / Islamic State / ISIL Iran Free Speech

Robert Spencer FaceBook Page

Robert Spencer Twitter

Robert Spencer twitter

Robert Spencer YouTube Channel

Books by Robert Spencer

Jihad Watch® is a registered trademark of Robert Spencer in the United States and/or other countries - Site Developed and Managed by Free Speech Defense

Content copyright Jihad Watch, Jihad Watch claims no credit for any images posted on this site unless otherwise noted. Images on this blog are copyright to their respective owners. If there is an image appearing on this blog that belongs to you and you do not wish for it appear on this site, please E-mail with a link to said image and it will be promptly removed.

Our mailing address is: David Horowitz Freedom Center, P.O. Box 55089, Sherman Oaks, CA 91499-1964

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.