When the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten (JP) commissioned 12 cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad last September, few foresaw the furor that would occur six months later. After all, the controversy was relatively quiet for 4 months, with only muted protests from that country's Muslim community. Even the EU and UN complained two months ago, with barely an international mention. But the decision since to republish the cartoons in French, German, Norwegian papers sparked a worldwide outcry. Muslims abhor images of the Prophet (take heed, Jack), lest they be worshipped (which begs the question of how anyone would identify him), but it was images of him with a bomb for a turban that pushed things over the edge. The anger appeared to grow with the geographical distance from Denmark, with Danish and British Muslims pleading for calm to death threats in the Middle East and a storming of the Danish embassy in Indonesia. "I am urging them to calm down and take stock of their own lives," said Imam Ibrahim Mogra of the Muslim Council of Britain (a small protest by supporters of Omar Bakri Muhammad was also vilified). "We should all remain within the law and not be provoked by hot-heads on both sides." Muslims worldwide called for a boycott of Danish goods, which was noted for its near total effectiveness. In the Muslim blogosphere, reactions varied wildly from support to revulsion. Syria and Saudi Arabia recalled their ambassadors while Iraq's Ayatollah Ali Sistani said militant Islamists were partly to blame for distorting the image of Islam. Interestingly, the two countries primarily involved in the Iraq war, the UK and the US, both sided with Muslims (though the US probably enjoyed taking a jab at Old Europe's coalition of the unwilling). "There is freedom of speech, but there is not an obligation to be gratuitously inflammatory," said British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, commending UK papers for not getting involved. "Inciting religious or ethnic hatred in this manner is not acceptable," concurred US State Department press officer Janelle Hironimus. For newspapers, the issue was only one of free speech, though the decision to publish the cartoons was taken in a Europe rife with blasphemy laws against Christianity and still sensitive to accusations of anti-Semitism. Though JP has since apologised, the conflict appears to lie between other newspapers wishing to promote free speech (or publicity) and Muslims who (rightly) see themselves unfairly targeted, with governments on all sides caught in the middle. Indeed many newspapers pointed out the efficacy (if overwrought) of Muslim protests to silence critics and scare governments compared to other faiths (an online petition containing 26,000 signatures against derogatory paintings of Hindu deities has accomplished little). Outside of voicing its concern, the Danish government said there was little (legally) that it could do - even if blasphemy laws were amended to include Muslims. "A Danish government can never apologise on behalf of a free and independent newspaper," said Prime Minster Anders Fogh Rasmussen after meeting Muslim ambassadors. "Neither the Danish government nor the Danish nation as such can be held responsible." The row will likely fade, as the furor over Quran desecration in Guantanamo eventually did, but the repercussions from those caught in the crossfire have yet to be discovered. Offense may not survive in a vacuum, as Norman Finkelstein has pointed out in his books regarding the (mis)use of the Holocaust. In that regard, Muslims may wish to consider ways to draw the air from the literary echo chamber of those who wish to offend us.

The comments by the racists are so predictable. The only thing which should be"outlawed" is this sort of hatred. Go choke on a stick of danish butter Euro-Nazis. Dont start something you cant finish.

Sistani has become more and more of a tool being used by the Americans as their mouthpiece.

Indeed, anyone who doesn't want to "do a jihad" on the West is a 'tool', no doubt...lol

The most sad thing in that whole story is not about these silly cartoons as no one would take notice of, if it was not for the Imams and leaders of the Islamic socity in Danmark travelling trough the whole Middle East telling a lot of lies about Danmark and stirring up tensions and asking to boycot Danish product and one the other hand talking with 2 tongues, because in Danmark they was talking that they was doing all to calm down the whole thing. I would say they are traitors to the land they are living in, mentalley living in the Arab world and not in Europe.

The most "sad thing" is that your PM would not even meet them, so some of them went abroad, and even if they didnt it would have become known sooner or later. I dont think people who want to "calm things down" go around printing such vicious and hateful garbage.
Seems to me you're upset that we're not buying your products. Its called freedom of speech. I hear that your tax rate is around 50%, so dont worry no poor Danish farmer will starve given the socialist nature of the state.

On its face, it would appear as if nothing were wrong. However, the Danish Muslim delegation showed much more than the 12 cartoons published by Jyllands Posten. In the booklet it presented during its tour of the Middle East, the delegation included other cartoons of Mohammed that were highly offensive, including one where the Prophet has a pig face. But these additional pictures were NOT published by the newspaper, but were completely fabricated by the delegation...

So muslims created anti-Muslim cartoons to stir up Muslim violence against non-Muslims. How do Muslims feel upon discovering this?

I guess in an ironic way, the popular Muslim reaction is a testament to freedom of expression. Until political cartooning becomes an art form in Damascus and Beirut, faraway hatemongers (with the exception of Iraqi, its hard to find a Dane to yell at) will be dissed through embassy and flag burnings. I guess the whole world can see now how much the Danes loathe their own Muslim population since that's what the cartoons are really about. Note: I think Muslims living in Europe should try protesting the cartoons in a more European way - no killings or burnings. Maybe some noisy barricades or solidarity marches.

>>So muslims created anti-Muslim cartoons to stir up Muslim violence against non-Muslims. How do Muslims feel upon discovering this?<<

More lies and delusions from jewish extremist solomania. I realize you hate Muslims but the level of stupidity and pettiness you display is pathetic.

i don't have time to wade through all these posts yet (although i am sure they are all predictable to a degree), but i do have time to let you know that the new zealand print and television media has now published some of the "offending" cartoons along with reasoned explanations of their reasons for doing so. australian media are expected to follow very shortly. it should not be long now before we have a clear two sides lined up in the impending "holy war"

DrM: Prove it. Prove it all!

As far as everyone here is concerned, maybe you are just PRETENDING to be a Muslim. Your credibility is no greater than mine until proven otherwise.

All you have to do is check out the publication records. Are you brave enough to do that, DrM?

>>Prove it. Prove it all!<<

One look at your blog is all thats needed. Its not my fault no one visits your dust bowl of a hate blog. Try advertising.

>>As far as everyone here is concerned, maybe you are just PRETENDING to be a Muslim.<<

Prove it. Lets add hallucinations to your extended diagnosis. Creative, but delusional nevertheless.

>>All you have to do is check out the publication records. Are you brave enough to do that, DrM?<<

Stupid zioNAZI liar, I have no reason to believe you or the extremist right wing drivel you link you. Why should I? Oh yeah Muslims are going to go create their own inflammatory cartoons and blame the Danes for them, in turn making their lives even more difficult as a targetted minority in Denmark. What brilliant logic and detective work! I take it back, you're not delusional, just a pathetic zionist extremist liar peddling rubbish.

>The only thing which should be"outlawed" is this sort of hatred. Go choke on a stick of danish butter Euro-Nazis. Dont start something you cant finish.

Sounds like you now hate the Danish. Should your words be outlawed?

>>Sounds like you now hate the Danish. Should your words be outlawed?<<

Uh no. Nice try though. I call it as I see it. I see Danish racist bastards in action, and I call them such. Totally different from starting a fire and complaining of being trampled in the ensuing stampede.

> I see Danish racist bastards in action, and I call them such.

Let me make a similar comparison statement for you, DrM.

(in reference to Muslim extremist suicide bombers)
I see Muslim murdering bastards in action, and I call them such.

Both of our statements refer to a VERY limited group of people(I refer to muslim extremists and you refer to the Danish artists and the people of the Danish newspaper) and yet BOTH statements indict the whole people.

Based on your own words, ALL Danes are racists bastards. Would my comparison statement hold true for ALL muslims? Of course it doesn't.

But someone reading your statement could interpret it that you HATE all Danes and would qualify your statement as hate speech. Therein lies the problem. You should have the right (actually, if you're American, you DO have the right) to hate all Danes and be free to say so. Based on your model of "protection from hate speech," you would be in violation.

When you place limits on free speech based on feelings and interpretations, you tread in VERY, very dangerous waters.

Also, DrM, the fact that someone says(or draws) something racist doesn't make hating them back any more RIGHT. It just makes hating them easier.

>>People died today over some scribbles on paper. <<

People died because police shot them. The blame rests clearly on the bastards who reprinted the pictures which led to the riots. This is what happens when you treat peoples beliefs as disrespectful "scribbles on paper."

>>Didn't Egyptian television just have a show called "horseman without a horse" that repeated the oldest lies about Jews?<<

Actually that show was hyped up by the criminal ADL, just like gave The Passion tons of free publicity. The program you are referring to was about Zionists, unlike media exposure in western countries by these same individuals blanketly smearing Arabs and Muslims time and time again.

>>Anti-Jewish cartoons are ok, but when the tables are turned it's ok to riot?<<

Incorrect, dont confuse anti-zionist cartoons targetting the likes of Shamir, Sharon and Netanyahu with deliberate attacks on religious icons. Western newspapers target Arab politicians all the time as well, I dont have a problem with that. When you target religious figures, you're crossing the line. You wont find any such attacks on Prophets Moses or Christ(pbut) in any Muslim media, or on the Torah or Bible.
Thats the difference. Free speech is one thing, hate speech is another. FYI that Danish paper refused to print "satirical" cartoons on Christ(pbuh) a few years ago for fear of offending people. They exercised "free speech" in a responsible and mature fashion, then turn around and behave like six year olds and demonstrate their hatred and hypocrisy when it comes to Muslims.
Double standard or no standard? Its not "freedom" when its the same group being singled out for hate and ridicule.

"Fallenchristian" your arguments lack context and facts. You insist on treating this affair as an event in a vaccuum. Europe's slide into fascism and racism is not a matter of interpretation. Its been happening for years. I see the current crisis as the continuation of Islamophobia in the continent. The revelation that Flemming Rose(the man who authorized these cartoons) has strong ties to US neocons(who themselves promote Islamophobia in America) is itself vindication that these people and their supporters are racists with a clear agenda. End of story.

DrM, I am not argueing whether or not the images were racist(several of them clearly were). I recognize that there is an element of racism in Europe(they hide it where we openly discuss it).

I am arguing your insistance that hate speech should be banned.

>"Fallenchristian" your arguments lack context and facts.

Once again I will ask you to compare my sentence to yours. In the context of today's world, are you condoning the hatred(and hate speech) against the Danes but not condoning the hatred(and hate cartoons) against Islam? It does not matter who starts it, hate is hate. Being morally "right" does not stop hate speech from being hate speech.

It isn't a bad thing to have hypocritical views on things that you care about. I love my grandfather but hate the fact that he is a total racist(which is one of the reasons why I "never call"). You just need to be able to recognize them.

So after all that, I must ask you. Do you hate the Danes? Do you hate people that are opposed to Islam? Do you hate people that persecute people of Islam?

If the answers to any of those questions are yes, then writing about it is hate speech. By writing it down, your words would be outlawed.

Fallenchristian, you need to quit playing semantic games. My dislike of racist Danes and their virulent Islamophobia, which has now caused riots worldwide has no resemblence to their irresponsible original hateful acts. Ofcourse it matters who starts the conflict, more importantly who prints material which they normally could not get away with.
I've explained this point already, reread my previous post because I have intention of wasting any more time on this issue.

DrM, unfortunately when you place limits on speech, semantics are VERY important.

But so long as you stop calling for restrictions on "freedumb" of speech, I will stop calling you on it. Thank you for finally facing my posts.

If only there was this type of public outcry when when westerners were being beheaded, or perhaps when Iraqi police are murdered, or perhaps when bombs kill innocent civilians world wide, or when planes are flown into buildings. I find it interesting that people who call themselves religious would riot, burn and kill over a cartoon, but play no role in quelling international terrorism even when it affects their own people. How can the people rioting, burning an killing be looked upon as anything other than ignorant. Picking the appropriate battle would better serve the Islamic cause. If this same outcry occurred when journalists were beheaded, the world would be on the Isalmic side, instead...

> I find it interesting that people who call themselves religious would riot, burn and kill over a cartoon, but play no role in quelling international terrorism even when it affects their own people.

Just curious, did YOU do anything to quell the Catholic terrorists in Northern Ireland? How about the Protestant terrorists there?

Probably not because you don't live there. I am guessing that most of the people on this messageboard are located in the US(it says .com) and as a result the only thing they could really do is educate the American Muslims, be an example for the world and try to "out" the extremists that support terrorism(either through turning them over to authorities or exiling them from the community).