Celebrities

How to deal with people who want Muslims to apologise for Charlie Hebdo

In the days since the Charlie Hebdo shooting we've witnessed some powerful responses to the attack: from tens of thousands taking to the street in unity rallies to Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, and from an imam who arrived at the scene of the murders to Private Eye editor Ian Hislop.

LBC presenter James O'Brien made his own powerful point about not blaming Muslims for the events in Paris of the last week when he dismantled a caller to his show demanding the Islamic community apologises.

Richard, a caller from Maidenhead, said although a "very minority group" carried out the terror attacks in the French capital a wider apology "was needed".

Here's the transcript of what happened next:

James O'Brien:

Why should Abbas, the last caller, apologise for what these murderers in Paris did?'

Richard:

Well because the alternative is that there is no apology.

James O'Brien:

Have you apologised yet?

Richard:

Apologised for what?

James O'Brien:

The murders in Paris on Wednesday.

Richard:

Why would I need to apologise for that?

James O'Brien:

Why does Abbas? He was in Berkshire.

Richard:

They're doing it in the name of Islam.

James O'Brien:

Not his Islam. They might have been doing it in the name of Richards, wouldn't mean it was about you.

Listen to the full exchange here:

More: [How France's three day terror nightmare unfolded]5

More: [Rupert Murdoch helpfully wades into the Charlie Hebdo tragedy]6

The Conversation (0)
x