Title: Jihads, Mohammad, and Denmark
Krüger - February 6, 2006 10:23 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE |
| The Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy began after complaints were made about twelve editorial cartoons which depict the Islamic prophet Muhammad. The cartoons were initially printed in the centre right Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten on September 30, 2005. Some of the cartoons have been reprinted in other newspapers in Europe, the United States, New Zealand, and Jordan. The drawings, which include a depiction of Muhammad with a bomb on his head, were purportedly meant as satirical illustrations accompanying an article on self-censorship and freedom of speech. Flemming Rose, the cultural editor of Jyllands-Posten, commissioned twelve cartoonists to draw them and published the cartoons in response to the difficulty that Danish writer Kĺre Bluitgen had finding artists to illustrate his children's book about Muhammad, because the artists feared violent attacks by extremist Muslims. Islamic teachings forbid the depiction of Muhammad as a measure against idolatry, a form of aniconism. In the past there have been non-satirical depictions of Muhammad by Muslims; however, a significant number of Muslims have publicly indicated their perception that the Jyllands-Posten cartoons imply that all Muslims are terrorists, by depicting Muhammad carrying a bomb in his turban and collaborating with terrorists (by receiving them in heaven). This generalisation comes in the context of perceived religious intolerance toward Muslims, and has led to the recent escalation of the controversy. Some argue that in the wake of the recent global backlash (including but not limited to the torching of foreign embassies) the artists' impressions have been retroactively corroborated. Although Jyllands-Posten maintains that the drawings were an exercise in free speech, there are both Muslims and non-Muslims in Denmark and elsewhere who view them as offensive, blasphemous and against the tenets of Islam. The cartoons may be considered as a protest to the violent threats people have received for publicly criticising Islam in Denmark. In reaction to the articles, several death threats have been made, resulting in the cartoonists reportedly going into hiding and the newspaper enhancing its security precautions. Reaction from the international community was also swift; the foreign ministries of eleven Islamic countries demanded action from the Danish government, and Libya eventually closed its embassy in Denmark in protest after the government refused to censure the newspaper or apologise. The Danish prime minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen said, "The government refuses to apologise because the government does not control the media or a newspaper outlet; that would be in violation of the freedom of speech". A large consumer boycott was organised in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and other Arabic-speaking countries. Recently the foreign ministers of seventeen Islamic countries renewed calls for the Danish government to punish those responsible for the cartoons, and to ensure that such cartoons are not published again. The Organization of the Islamic Conference and the Arab League have demanded that the United Nations impose international sanctions upon Denmark. Protests have also taken place against the cartoons, many of them violent. On 4 February, the buildings containing the Danish and Norwegian embassies in Syria were set ablaze, although no one was hurt. Because of what has happened in Damascus, the Norwegian and Danish governments advise Danes and Norwegians to leave Syria. Further protests on 5 February resulted in the burning down of the Danish General Consulate and an attack on a Christian neighbourhood in Beirut, and the arrest of two Jordanian newspaper editors after they reproduced the drawings. Lebanon's Interior Minister Hassan Sabeh resigned hours after the destruction of the Consulate. On 5 February, Iran announced that it was severing all trade with Denmark, effective on 6 February. On 6 February, the first deaths in connection with the controversy were reported at the U.S. Airbase in Bagram, Afghanistan, where Afghan riot police fired upon an alleged attempt by a crowd to forcibly enter the base. In addition, the death of a youth in Yemen was attributed to anti-cartoon activity. |
The Danish Embassy Burns in Damascus, Syria
I'm shocked no one has brought this up yet, as it's clearly the most volotile situation that the world has seen for years. In fact, i've never seen such a huge outcry, and violent reaction to something this (in my opinion) petty.
I'm sure you've got your own opinions, and in which case, i'd like to know them.
[Some links:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4686410.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4684652.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4684930.stm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jyllands-Post...ons_controversy]
Revan The Great - February 8, 2006 03:46 AM (GMT)
Proves once again, Islam is stuck in time, about 1,000 years ago, as are all their crap-hole nations in The Middle East. There is no burning or other crap when Christians and Jews are bashed in cartoons/comics, as they so frequently are. Yet, by God, mention something about Mohammad, heads roll.