2006年VOA标准英语-French Newspaper Reprints Controversial Ca

By Lisa Bryant
Paris
01 February 2006

A French newspaper has published Danish cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed that have stirred outrage¹ in the Muslim world.  France-Soir newspaper says it is simply defending freedom of expression.

-------------------------------------------

France-Soir plastered its own cartoon on its front page - spoofing not only the prophet Mohammed, but also Buddha², Jehovah and Jesus.  The French newspaper wrote in a large headline, "Yes, one has the right to make fun of God." 

Inside its pages, the newspaper ran all of the controversial cartoons of Mohammed that appeared in a Danish daily in September.

In an editorial, France-Soir defended its action as defending freedom of expression and reporting on a major subject of controversy³. 

It argued in an editorial that the Danish cartoons had absolutely no racial intention, no will to denigrate⁴ a community as such.  France-Soir said some of the cartoons were funny, others less so.  The newspaper said it simply wanted to publish them so the public could see for themselves.

But Dalil Boubakeur, head of the Paris Mosque⁵, criticized the newspaper for publishing the cartoons.

Mr. Boubakeur said the cartoons hurt the feelings of Muslims.  They act as provocations⁶.  "Liberty is liberty," he said, "but this is about people's sensitivities."

The Danish cartoons have stirred similar expressions of outrage around the Arab world.  Arab ministers last month urged Denmark to punish the newspaper that published them.  And while Denmark's prime minister refused to do so, citing again the liberty of expression, the Danish newspaper apologized for offending Muslims with the cartoons.

But Annabelle Arki, head of the European desk at the Paris-based Reporters Without Borders says both the French and Danish newspapers have the right to print such caricatures.

Arki says press freedom means publishing all kinds of opinions - even those that some might consider shocking an defamatory.  She says there are other means to fight slurs⁷ - for example by filing charges of defamation⁸ in the courts.

1 outrage   

n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒

参考例句：

• When he heard the news he reacted with a sense of outrage.他得悉此事时义愤填膺。
• We should never forget the outrage committed by the Japanese invaders.我们永远都不应该忘记日本侵略者犯下的暴行。

2 Buddha   

n.佛；佛像；佛陀

参考例句：

• Several women knelt down before the statue of Buddha and prayed.几个妇女跪在佛像前祈祷。
• He has kept the figure of Buddha for luck.为了图吉利他一直保存着这尊佛像。

3 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

4 denigrate   

v.诬蔑，诽谤

参考例句：

• It was unkind to denigrate her achievement.贬低她的成就是刻薄的。
• To assert this is to denigrate the effectiveness of the police.坚持这一点就是贬低警方的办事能力。

5 mosque   

n.清真寺

参考例句：

• The mosque is a activity site and culture center of Muslim religion.清真寺为穆斯林宗教活动场所和文化中心。
• Some years ago the clock in the tower of the mosque got out of order.几年前，清真寺钟楼里的大钟失灵了。

6 provocations   

n.挑衅( provocation的名词复数 )；激怒；刺激；愤怒的原因

参考例句：

• We cannot ignore such provocations. 对于这种挑衅，我们不能置之不理。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• They must immediately cease all their provocations. 他们必须停止一切挑衅。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

7 slurs   

含糊的发音( slur的名词复数 )； 玷污； 连奏线； 连唱线

参考例句：

• One should keep one's reputation free from all slurs. 人应该保持名誉不受责备。
• Racial slurs, racial jokes, all having to do with being Asian. 种族主义辱骂，种族笑话，都是跟亚裔有关的。

8 defamation   

n.诽谤；中伤

参考例句：

• Character defamation can be either oral or written.人格诽谤既可以是口头的也可以是书面的。
• The company sued for defamation.这个公司因受到诽谤而提起诉讼。