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Alert

RSF condemns death threats against philosophy professor

(RSF/IFEX) - Death threats issued against French philosophy teacher Robert Redeker since he wrote an op-ed piece entitled, "What the free world should do in the face of Islamist intimidation" for the 19 September 2006 issue of "Le Figaro" have been condemned by RSF. The organisation also denounced a ban on the issue imposed by Egypt and Tunisia. The 52-year old teacher has had to stop teaching and is under police protection.

"These violent reactions are disturbing signs of a desire to silence any debate about Islam," the organisation said. "It is unacceptable that threats and censorship are increasingly replacing debate and controversy. It is the nature of an op-ed piece to try to create an impact and it is understandable that Redeker's comments shocked some people. But 'Le Figaro's decision to publish was strictly a matter of editorial judgment."

"The debate should have been conducted in the media. If 'Le Figaro' had decided, in a misguided, precautionary measure, like the one taken in Berlin to withdraw the production of Mozart's opera 'Idomeneo,' not to publish this op-ed piece, it would have been a defeat for freedom of thought."

"The reactions to Redeker's op-ed piece have unfortunately proved him to be right when he spoke of the dangers of 'ideological surveillance' that must be resisted," RSF added.