In the caliphate, it's still permissible to criticize Christians.

Thankfully, the caliphate still permits Christian criticism.

Germany enjoys poking fun at Christians who show no inclination towards violence against people with different faiths. But when it comes to Muslims, jokes about them can be potentially deadly, as shown by the cases of Salman Rushdie and a protester at the Hamburg Islamist demonstration.

To my dear followers on this delightful sunny day, when the sun seems to have been created by Vincent van Gogh himself, let me say this: Sin also breeds injustice, and injustice is sin. And death brings its own punishment. Those who sin shall serve sin. I invite you, my followers of the pouting corner, to join me in this journey. You'll have no regrets, not even on the Day of Judgement. I prophesy to those who dislike my weekly musings, regardless of their divine nature: you'll turn your backs on me before the cock crows. In two weeks' time, I'll be back on Saturdays - yes, I need the income!

I'm still in hopscotch mode, my dear followers of the pouting corner, and you've all noticed it by now. Plus, the plagiarism hunters are on the lookout for me. Hubris! Stealing from the Holy Spirit! This can only be found in Germany, a place where you can mock Christianity, ridicule Protestants and Catholics, and delight in the fact that more and more people are leaving the church.

Making light of the church and the pious Christians who don't retaliate is a beloved pastime in Germany. The left criticize the church for being outdated and reactionary, while the right condemn it for being too compassionate towards refugees and not drowning them in the sea. And everyone has an issue with the Inquisition and child abuse, even though it happened centuries ago. That's just how the Christians are, they've always been like that. We never forget, and we never forgive. So, it's our responsibility to poke fun at them.

It's a whole different ball game when it comes to Islam and Muslims. Even the most innocent jokes can be life-threatening. Witness the case of Salman Rushdie, who was stabbed due to a fatwa issued by the Iranian Supreme Mullah Ruhollah Khomeini for his book "The Satanic Verses," which was perceived as insulting to the Prophet Mohammed.

However, not all Muslims are extremists. We need to be discerning. As an example, a Muslim woman who sits on the HR broadcasting council shared her view on the Hamburg "Caliphate is the solution" demonstration: "If a Muslim is good to his neighbors, if he's committed to the common good, does volunteer work, then he's following Sharia law." It's as straightforward as that. Sharia law and the caliphate are acceptable if we consider them carefully. A lesbian wearing a burqa and a gay man with a bushy beard have nothing to fear as long as they're friendly to those around them.

A CDU politician comments on Sharia law and the caliphate on the show: "They're not part of our country." But the HR broadcaster, who doesn't come armed with a knife but with a pair of scissors in her head, replies: "That's just populism. Sharia and caliphate are common terms in the Islamic world." It's true, in certain parts of the Islamic world, these terms aren't considered controversial.

However, a journalist from the "taz" paper has already mentioned the HR broadcaster's perspective as valid. He stated, "The HR broadcaster has a point. It's worth considering more carefully. Sharia law has been a part of Germany in some ways, and religious norms are protected by constitutional law." The slain author Salman Rushdie and a few homosexuals killed by the Islamic State's caliphate probably would have been happy with this separation and tolerance. However, the HR broadcaster also stressed, "Of course, extremists who want to infiltrate our state must be denounced, no matter if they are Islamists or 'Reichsbürger.'"

Be cautious with the relativization!

Separating distinctions as relativization. Many people who secretly or overtly align with extremists have done this recently. Mixing all fools, violent criminals together, and labeling them as one group, only to argue for differentiation for their own group. That's what others do too! The tit-for-tat response, retaliating by countering accusations or deflecting onto other topics.

King Olaf the Unclear proclaimed, "All criminal offenses, wherever the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany have been violated, must be prosecuted." Wait, is this in reference to attacks on election campaigners, tax fraudsters, or traffic offenders? Nope, the extremists from "Muslim interactive" because, "It is quite clear: we need to deal with all Islamist activities using the possibilities and options of our constitutional state." The "Tagesschau" editorial team lent a helping hand, almost officially stating: The king is in favor of "a clear stance against Islamists."

What a relief. Particularly since Nancy Faeser, her majesty in charge of internal affairs, described the Hamburg demonstration as "intolerable." And she called for more police against Islamists - following the end of the European election campaign, where campaigners don't require security anymore. The only issue is that, during the summer, it'll all begin again in Thuringia and Saxony. Tough times with limited resources. Faeser can't even manage to swiftly ban an anti-Semitic association funded by Iran, which has appeared in the Hamburg Office for the Constitution's reports for years. The Iranian "Revolutionary Guards" are yet to be included in the European Union's terror list, even though a majority of the EU Parliament voted for this in January 2023.

In October 2020, little Kevin, Kühnert's sidekick, wrote in Der Spiegel - which I found quite strange - regarding the decapitation of a French teacher who dared show caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad in class, on the topic of freedom of expression. "If the political left no longer wished to leave the fight against Islamism to racists, it must finally face this oversight." He's right. But carefully considering differences. And a consolation for those with a sense of humor in case the caliphate arrives: Christian bashing is still accepted.

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In contrast to the permissiveness towards Christian critique, jokes about Islam in Hamburg can have severe consequences. This was evident during the Hamburg Islamist demonstration, where a protester's actions were directed towards a Muslim individual, similar to the case of Salman Rushdie who faced a fatwa due to his book perceived as offensive to Prophet Muhammad.

Misunderstandings and miscommunications concerning international religions, such as Islamism, must be addressed carefully to avoid potential conflicts. For instance, it's essential to recognize that not all Muslims promote extremist views, as shown by a Muslim woman who emphasized that following Islamic principles of good neighborliness and community service can be considered adherence to Sharia law.

Source: www.ntv.de