Ex-MI6 Head on Charlie Hebdo: We Need to Exercise ‘Restraint’ Instead of Disrespect

The former head of British intelligence agency MI6 said in a speech this week that people in the West should exercise more “restraint” when it comes to insulting Muslims like Charlie Hebdo did, because if not, then more attacks like the one in Paris last week could happen. Sir John Sawers called for more respect and less deliberate provocation, even as he made it clear the Paris attacks have no justification.

According to The Independent, Sawers said, “There is a requirement for some restraint on the side of those of us in the West. I rather agree with the Pope… that respect for others peoples’ religion is an important part of this. If you show disrespect of others’ core values then you are going to provoke an angry response.”

Sawers also said the general public needs to be more open to allowing intel agencies to monitor their information, even if they’re innocent, in the name of security.

[image via screengrab]

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Follow Josh Feldman on Twitter: @feldmaniac

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