Death Series - Fighting Radical Islam in a Democracy

Banning offensive speech doesn't work.

Australian authorities are outraged at DVDs one of the their citizens produced called "Death Series" where some young man who can't get attention any other way calls for extreme measures of violence against Jews and women. He (and Econo-Girl is not using his name deliberately) encourages parents to teach their children that martyrdom is the greatest thing they can achieve.

Econo-Girl is interested particularly in the approach of Australia in trying to contain this boy's ideas. They begin criminal prosecution against him for inciting terrorism. Religious leaders, including Islamic leaders, condemn his message.

Has it occurred to these leading Australians that their condemnation encourages people to support this boy's radical ideas?

Econo-Girl recommends making people aware of the message in the DVDs "Death Series" but don't mention the name of the "cleric" at all. Ask mainstream Islamic clerics to review the quality of the message in the DVDs and distribute that, not as parental outrage, but as a studied and academic criticism of its message. Outright banning is not the solution. Neither is criminal prosecution alone.

Outright banning of a DVD only appeals to the emotional adolescent who is the target of these rantings. Counter the message and the messenger. And don't promote the messenger by naming him. Recognize the need this boy is fulfilling and try to fill it in a constructive way. See the appeal of his DVD as a warning that the spiritual needs of some are not being met. And address them.

Applicable Al-Anon saying: If the dog is hungry, feed the dog.