Let's stand up together against hate speech

Recent unrest in various European regions has prompted a backlash from certain Argentine government officials against Islam. This hate speech targeting Muslims appears to be a troubling aspect of their "cultural battle." However, many have grown accustomed to such animosity, failing to recognize its significance. If this content were about Christians or Jews, society's reaction would be markedly different.

It's essential to clarify that this article aims to address the issue, not to portray any faith as a victim nor to request censorship for criticizing one's beliefs. As an Islamic theologian and the President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Argentina, I wholeheartedly support open dialogue on religious doctrines. As a Muslim, I firmly believe in the right to freedom of opinion, but we must remember that such rights come with responsibilities and standards. Freedom of expression should not be a license to spread falsehoods, insults, or attacks on others.

Many of these individuals claim to be libertarians, yet they fail to understand that freedom of conscience, belief, and thought is the foundation of all freedoms. President Milei has vowed to turn Argentina into a "beacon of freedom" for the world, emphasizing religious freedom as a cornerstone of this vision. In this context, Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights safeguards the right to worship for every individual, regardless of their background.

I advocate for a clear distinction between hate speech and freedom of expression as the key to maintaining peace in a diverse society.

While I support debates about immigration and border control, I strongly oppose using these issues to scapegoat minorities, specifically migrants and Muslims. It's crucial to avoid attributing the actions of individuals or groups to an entire religion based solely on their faith. In reality, no faith is devoid of flaws, as history has shown. Each faith should be evaluated based on its own teachings, such as the Quran for Islam, which emphasizes peace and condemns violence and terrorism.

While some Muslims may hold extremist views, radicalism cannot be attributed to their religious identity, as Islam itself means "peace" and advocates for nonviolence. The Quran asserts that anyone who kills an innocent person is as if they've killed all of humanity. Since the seventh century, Islam has maintained a separation between state and religion, treating faith as a personal matter between the individual and God.

Equality, not just between men and women, but among all human beings, is the foundation of our theology. Our concept of "Jihad" is not a holy war against infidels, but an inner struggle against one's own evil inclinations.

In conclusion, Islam inherently promotes peaceful coexistence and does not impede the integration of its followers into Western societies. If there are Muslims who infringe upon the rights of non-Muslims and challenge Western values, it is solely because they disregard or misinterpret the core teachings of Islam. Such individuals pose a threat not only to the West but also to Islam and global peace.

As the representative of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Argentina, I call upon all moderates to unite against extremist and violent ideologies that endanger our shared humanity.