'Freedom of expression is important for Muslims in a plural society.' Evaluate this statement.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2022). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. Mark according to the levels of response marking grids for AO1 and AO2. Answers may refer to any religious theory or teaching. Students may propose, analyse and evaluate some of the following arguments. All relevant arguments must be credited.
2. Candidates could explain what freedom of expression or freedom of speech means and how it is part of an individual's rights in society. Freedom of speech may be exercised in a direct (words) or a symbolic (actions) way.
3. Candidates could agree with the statement and state that the right to express oneself forms part of the rights that each individual has been endowed with whether they are Muslims or not. It is the freedom of an individual or a community to articulate their opinions and ideas without fear of retaliation, censorship, or legal sanction either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of their choice.
4. In a pluralistic society people of every faith should have the right to express themselves without restrictions as it is recognised as a human right under article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and recognized in international human rights law.
5. Candidates could say that Muslims are free to express their religious identity, whether in the way they celebrate Eid, or the way they dress, for example, women wearing hijab in the same way as other faiths do. They should not be restricted in that sense to do so just because they are Muslims. Some might even consider it important to visually represent Islam in the community where they live.
6. The freedom to live as upholders of the Islamic faith is also important for Muslims as it is an integral part of who they are and what place they hold in society.
7. Candidates could disagree with the statement and explain that there should be boundaries to free speech, as it can harm others.
8. Expression is free only when it does not harm the public and does not violate the rights of others. 'Allah loveth not that evil should be noised abroad in public speech, except where injustice hath been done'. Qur'an 4:148 explains about the need of not harming others through our speech.
9. Qur'an 16:125 mentions how invitation to Islam should be done 'with wisdom and beautiful preaching' and not by being forceful or insulting, and even religious debates, which is allowed, however they should be carried in a respectable way.
10. Muslims are also not allowed to impose their faith on others, even if they are recommended to preach Islam, as there is 'No compulsion in Islam' (Qur'an, 2.256).
11. Even towards Muslims like themselves, they have to be careful about expressing themselves freely. Shariah should pervade the life of the Muslims, and the ummah should take precedence over individuality. The ummah can get weaker when Muslims argue against each other and become divisive.
12. When dealing with Muslims of different schools of thought or from different points of view they should not be judgemental. Qur'an 49:11 shows that Muslims are not allowed to just voice however they feel, even if it is criticism against each other as it is considered a sin.
13. Another argument could be that the right to express themselves is something that has to be carefully weighed by any individual, not just Muslims and in any society, whether plural or where the Muslim community is in majority.
14. A personal judgment should be concluded, drawing together the discussion and making an overall conclusion about whether freedom of expression is allowed in any form or whether there are other factors to take into consideration.