Boyle describes how "[f]reedom of opinion and expression is the child of freedom of religion in the sense that it was the struggle against religious absolutism by religious dissidents in Europe that opened the space for freedom of speech on political and social matters."229 Cartoonists have played an important historical role in this process. That is why there would be something very sad if the "cartoon war" were to be resurrected.
Complete support for religious defamation in Europe may be difficult to sustain. Increasingly, the lines between race and religion are blurring, with the result that religion is the primary source of identity for many peoples. When you factor in the minority status of Muslims in Europe,230 the result is a very easy target. Political parties have been quick to defend a principle of freedom of expression that does not exist in a pure form in any state in the world. There is a need for a more concentrated debate on what our laws on freedom of expression are designed to achieve. Are restrictions for hate speech justified only in the context of race? Should all such laws be abandoned in order to safeguard criticism of religion?
Post notes that "[h]ate speech is commonly regulated in Europe. The suppression of speech that is deeply offensive to religious groups is sociologically and theoretically analogous to the suppression of speech that is deeply offensive to racial groups."231 The distaste felt by contemporary viewers of cartoons pillorying and stereotyping minority racial groups in the past century should be recalled. It is possible that future generations will view treating religious groups in a similar vein with equal distaste.
Finally, cartoonists must be able to work free of threat, irrespective of their viewpoints, as long as they stay within the parameters of the law. It is the law that must be changed if we are to decide that religious defamation cannot be tolerated. Ultimately, and unless that happens, restraint and consideration are required on the part of cartoonists. However, these are not traits that go easily with the profession.