Applying Sociological Theories

SC1101E: Short Assignment 1
Article: Female bomber kills 12 in Kabul to avenge film (AFP, 2012)

The article highlights the reaction to the release of the film, “Innocence of Muslims” in the United States, which has sparked fatal controversy on a global scale with its anti-Islamic sentiments. There are three main groups of society that this article focuses on – the extremist Christians held responsible, the victimised Muslims, and the governments and state authorities of America and the rest of the world. The reasons for their actions and reactions can be explained using sociological paradigms such as symbolic interactionism and functionalism.
The Prophet as a symbol
The reason for the conflict among the two main groups directly involved – the right-wing extremist Christians and the rioting Muslims - lies in their differing perceptions of the Muslim Prophet Muhammad. To the former, Muhammad has no religious significance whatsoever as seen in the film where it “shows [Muhammad] authorizing the looting of cities, the raping of women, the taking of slaves, and the sexual assault of children”. (Moubayed, 2012) However, to Muslims, Muhammad is held in the highest esteem as he is the last Prophet sent by God and it was through him that the “the final and complete revelation of the faith was made”. (BBC, 2011) Hence, the polarity in their perception of Muhammad has given rise to this conflict.
The film as a symbol - Hate speech or Freedom of expression?
The making of this film could be viewed as either provocative speech, but free speech nonetheless, or as an abuse of free speech. The way that Muslims perceive this film may help to explain the varying degrees of reactions from them; some are violently outraged by the provocations while others are more tolerant. Some Muslims who live in conservative environments where speech is heavily scrutinised, may view this as a threat and an insult and therefore have more intense reactions to it. However, those who have been brought up in a more liberal environment would still view it as insulting, but would also grudgingly accept the rights of provocative speech.
Female suicide bomber
“Suicide bombings carried out by women are extremely rare in Afghanistan - and few if any women drive cars.” (Sridharan, 2012) Although it might be mere coincidence that the namesake of the suicide bomber was the first wife of Prophet Muhammad, perhaps the motive behind using the 22 year old Fatima was to gain more attention to the unhappiness of the Muslims, because the perception of using a female as a suicide bomber is generally more controversial.
(Dys)Function of religion?
It may be said that the actions of the two religious groups (the Christians with their insulting film and the Muslims with their violent reaction) involved show the deteriorating function of the religion, which is to ensure order and inculcate good moral values among members of society. The main doctrine of religion – to love thy neighbour, thou shalt not kill, etc…- has been replaced by a competition of religions instead, therefore sparking off greater friction and a sense of enmity between different religious groups. However, I believe that it is not the function of religion that has altered over time, but the people’s perception of the function of religion that has changed. Hence, when followers of a faith act contradictorily to the teachings of that faith, and manipulate its teachings for selfish gains, the main purpose of the religion seems to be lost. For example, in a recent commentary, a Singaporean Muslim leader states, “This face of Islam - that of vengeance and violence in the face of provocation - is alien to me. How can a person proclaiming daily the invocation "In the name of God, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate" spout so much hate and violence in a single breath?” (Taib, 2012)
Conflicting functions of Governments
Some government bodies around the world now face a dilemma: to allow this act of ‘free speech’ or to maintain religious harmony through censorship? Their reactions show how they prioritise their functions. For state authorities such as those of Singapore’s, where multi-religious harmony is of utmost importance, the priority lies in ensuring order and stability through censorship, as can be seen by the Government’s immediate request to Google to ban the film on YouTube. However, for the others, such as the American government, the priorities are blurred as its function of safeguarding peace and order is also closely linked with its function of ensuring rights of speech. And where freedom of speech, provocative or not, is protected by the First Amendent of the Constituition, it is difficult to discern the thin line between free speech and the abuse of it.

In conclusion, the two theories of symbolic interactionism and functionalism have been greatly useful in explaining the reasons behind the actions of the different societies in response to the film.
References
AFP. (2012, September 18). asiaone: News: World: Female Bomber kills 12 in Kabul to avenge film. Retrieved from asiaone: http://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/World/Story/A1Story20120918-372281.html
BBC. (2011, July 08). Religions: Prophet Muhammad. Retrieved from BBC : http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/history/muhammad_1.shtml
Sridharan, V. (2012, September 18). Innocence of Muslims Protests: Female Suicide Bomber 'Fatima ' Rams Foreign Workers ' Bus in Kabul . Retrieved from ibtimes: http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/385391/20120918/afghan-innocence-muslims-kabul-bomb-taliban-islam.htm
Taib, M. I. (2012, September 20). Understand rage, and its antidote. Retrieved from Todayonline: http://www.todayonline.com/CommentaryandAnalysis/Commentary/EDC120920-0000022/Understanding-rage,-and-its-antidote

References: AFP. (2012, September 18). asiaone: News: World: Female Bomber kills 12 in Kabul to avenge film. Retrieved from asiaone: http://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/World/Story/A1Story20120918-372281.html BBC. (2011, July 08). Religions: Prophet Muhammad. Retrieved from BBC : http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/history/muhammad_1.shtml Sridharan, V. (2012, September 18). Innocence of Muslims Protests: Female Suicide Bomber 'Fatima ' Rams Foreign Workers ' Bus in Kabul . Retrieved from ibtimes: http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/385391/20120918/afghan-innocence-muslims-kabul-bomb-taliban-islam.htm Taib, M. I. (2012, September 20). Understand rage, and its antidote. Retrieved from Todayonline: http://www.todayonline.com/CommentaryandAnalysis/Commentary/EDC120920-0000022/Understanding-rage,-and-its-antidote