A Pakistani man reads a local edition of the International New York Times in Islamabad on January 14. The paper shows a blank section of a page that, if printed, would report on the first issue of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo since a jihadist attack decimated its editorial staff. A statement at the bottom of the section reads, “The article was removed by our publishing alliance in Pakistan. The International New York Times and its editorial staff had no role in its removal.” (Aamir Qureshi, AFP/Getty Images)
Re: “Was it really necessary to publish cartoons provoking Muslims?,” Jan. 19 letter to the editor.
Letter-writer Walt Newcomb wonders what the value of “inflammatory” satire is. The value lies in the very act of publishing these cartoons, in defiance of threats and as a refusal to allow evil cowards with big guns to dictate the limits of liberty. In a society of equals, the sting of satire cannot be expected to spare anyone, be they prophet or peasant. Freedom of thought and expression is primary in our society — itap no accident that the rights in the First Amendment come before those in the Second.
Tom Imber,Aurora
This letter was published in the Jan. 21 edition.
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