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December 30, 2005

Row deepens over Danish cartoons of Prophet

Protestors Arab foreign ministers have condemned the Danish government for failing to act against a newspaper that published cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad. At the Arab League conference in Cairo, they said they were "surprised and discontented at the response." Islam forbids any depiction of Muhammad or of Allah.

The Jyllands-Posten newspaper published a series of 12 cartoons showing Muhammad, in one of which he appeared to have a bomb in his turban. The Arab League's ministers council said the cartoons were an insult to Islam. The government's response "was disappointing despite its political, economic and cultural ties with the Muslim world", it added.

Death threats

Danish Muslim community leaders held talks with Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen in July to complain about press coverage of Islam. At the time, Mr Rasmussen said he could not tell newspapers what to print - or what not to.

Source: [BBC]

Arab ministers also said they were unhappy that European human rights organisations have not taken a clear position on the issue.

There have been street protests both in Denmark and in Muslim countries following the publication of the cartoons. The newspaper insists on freedom of expression and says it has the right to print whatever words and pictures it chooses.

It said both the paper and the cartoonist had received death threats.

Related stories:

For single page combination of all stories on the Danish cartoon row click here

Posted at 09:00 PM in Cartoon rows, Culture almighty, Religion | Permalink

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Comments

"The paper and cartoonist have received death threats." Why do followers of the "religion of peace" react in a violent way to every slight,real or imagined?

Posted by: Dan | Jan 2, 2006 1:46:27 AM

Why people of Capitalism,Libralism, and Democracy occupy the muslims' lands.

Why Muslims have to take whatever they throw at them.

In last 3 years over 200 thousand muslims killed.

The question here, who is violent? The Muslims who they are under occupation and attack by all means day and nights or the capitalism loyalists?!!!

These questions requires Intellectual honesty and if you don't have it then don't answer them.

Posted by: MD | Jan 12, 2006 2:23:25 PM

No need to get defensive,MD.If you believe democracy and capitalism are evil or inferior to Islamic law,fine,but if the West is so bad,why are so many people from around the world emigrating here?
What muslim lands are the infidels occupying? If you mean Iraq and Afghanistan,it's only temporary...and it's more like a liberation,not an occupation.
Not sure where you got the 200,000 figure,but some of those were killed by fellow muslims,to be intellectually honest about it.And going back further,Saddam eliminated at least 100,000 Kurds by various means,including weapons of mass destruction (gassing thousands in Kurdish villages)
Any so-called muslim lands were captured by means of force,from the days of Muhammed to the present time.And as anyone familiar with Islam knows,the ultimate goal is world domination.Allah has said "make war on them until idolatry shall cease and God's religion shall reign supreme."

Posted by: Dan | Jan 14, 2006 4:31:19 AM

If you use your brain you will know that Prophet Mohamed is the greatest man.He is the man who tought you human rights. You are the killer who come to Iraq,Afganstan an palastine to kill the childeren an destroy the houses. You are just thives com to steel oil and our wealth.
If some muslmes do some bade thinges,that because your crimes to the muslem counteries.But Islam is the pease religion.He is the religion of Prophet Muhamman ,Prophet Jesus Prophet Mousas,Prophet Ibraham and all Prophets.

Posted by: Mahasen | Jan 22, 2006 1:51:59 AM

Mahasen,
I didn't realize we were stealing your oil.I was under the impression we have been paying for it,and btw, the price has nearly doubled in the past year!
I also forgot that Jesus was a muslim prophet and not the Son of God as He claimed,or that Muhammed is above Jesus because he had the last revelation,more than 600 years after the crucifixion.
Mo taught us human rights? History teaches otherwise,but perhaps we should just agree to disagree and drop the subject.

Posted by: Dan | Jan 22, 2006 7:17:06 PM

the ugly cartoonest who had this twisted imagination has recently came to life and not eligible to draw Prophet Mohammed pic. he could simply refer to islamic books that mentioned a full description of prophet's image. moreover, didn't he have any other globaly interesting topic to mention? it's kind of silly thing hurting millions of people feelings this way, but the glow of the money might have been much more worthy, despite of all consequences. now, he is rich and famous and that's exactly what he was looking for. the RAT who became a LION. give him a big hand jews.

Posted by: proudly mohammed nouman | Jan 23, 2006 5:21:27 PM

What can one say?
FACTS, HOWEVER HARD, ARE FACTS-HARD, UNREMMITING..
EVERY PERJORATIVE EXPRESSION OF POST ENLIGHTENMENT LIBERAL THOUGHT SEEMS A TOTAL ANATHEMA TO SO LARGE A % OF THE MUSLIMS THRU'OUT THE WORLD.
ANY SLIGHT. REAL OR IMAGINED SEEEMS A PRETEXT TO SLIGHT, AT BEST, OR KILL AND MAIM.
THE BIGGEST CRIMES AGAINST MUSLIMS IN THE LAST DECADES HAVE BEEN CARRIED OUT BY OTHER MUSLIMS.
SADDAM HUSSEIN IS BELIEVED TO HAVE KILLED NEARLY A MILLION OF HIS FELLOW MUSLIMS.
IN DHARFUR OVER 150,000HAVE BEEN KILLED AND HUNDRED OF THOUSANDS DRIVEN INTO REFUGEE STATUS WITH DIRE POVERTY ,-WELL STRARVATION.
THE SILENCE FROM THE REST OF THE MUSLIM WORLD IS THUNDERING.
WHY?????

Posted by: andy | Jan 24, 2006 6:15:37 AM

The silence of Danish government on the cartoon of the prophet Mohamed may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him, depicts clearly
the start of collapse of the western civilisation which has no room for moral scruples.In my view,words are too feeble to express the anger of Muslims in all over the world on this matter. I have personally decided to boycott all Danish products and I wish Muslims should follow suit.

Posted by: Abdelhamid Bouziane | Jan 25, 2006 5:30:29 PM

I perceive my words willnot be a comfort to either muslims( my kinsmen ) or christians .
Danish journalist or any other person have no right to judge prophets chosen by God , they are in a mush far higher rank should be respected by all civilized humanity .
The case here , muslims cannot do the same to Moses or Jesus like Danish journalist made to Mohammad because Mohammad tought muslims to believe & respect all messangers of God .
Regarding why muslims live in the Western countries , this is simply because instead of sufferring low life in their home land they work hard to earn their living amoung forgein communities which will never accept them .
So they never blend in western cultures .
Arab muslim dectators leaders have killed indeed more muslims far than any western army did in 200 years .
The only way out , is revolting against our dectators , re building our home land , be wealthy & powerfull , thus respected by East & West .Once in the past Arab muslims were titans , not by swicide bombing but by arms & brain .

Posted by: Mohammed Hussein | Jan 26, 2006 6:55:35 AM

E-demonstrate against the Danish daily newspaper
The Ugly Jyllands-posten

I am going to direct my free speech to the man sorry (the half man) who said that:" if we apologize, we go against the freedom of speech that generations before us have struggled to win"; Hence, I have to remind him that the generations after him will suffer so much to live, as he didn't invoke the sustainability for the future.

In fact, words are too feeble to express the anger of Muslims in all over the world on this matter, especially we, as Muslims cannot insult the other prophets, because we respect the faith and the religious issues of others, and another reason we do believe in other prophets’ missions because they are coming from Allah.
Any way, I have to remind the half man “Carsten Juste”, chief editor of Jyllands-posten, that, he have to wait for the heavenly Punishment, Because Allah sure can decide if the pictures are offensive or not.

Finally, I wish I could manage to do one’s bit towards my beloved Prophet Muhammad.

N.B.: any respectable Danish citizen has to demonstrate protest against the ugly Danish pictures, which will be the main reason for battle between Muslims and others who insulted our prophet that’s because Allah has said "make war on them until idolatry shall cease and God's religion shall reign supreme."

Mustafa Ahmed Mekawy
mekawy@link.net

Posted by: moustafa | Jan 27, 2006 10:37:26 AM

No ONE IS HAVING ANY RIGHT TO INSULT OUR RELIGION BY ANY KIND ESPECIALLY OUR BELOVED PROPHET MUHAMMED (PBUH)WE WILL SACRIFICE OUR BLOODS LET IT SOUND A WARNING TO ANY EUROPEAN NATIONS. WHO EVER DID THIS WILL NOT GET AWAY WITH IT THE WAY YOU LIKE TO LEAVE WE LIKE DEING JUST REMEBER APOLOGISING WILL NOT SOLVE THIS

Posted by: Twalib Haytham BADBESS | Jan 27, 2006 11:21:17 AM

WE HAVE NO HATRED TO ANY KIND OF RELIGION U STUPID U HAVE YOUR RELIGION AND WE HAVE OUR YOU STARTED IT AND WE KNOW HOW TO FINISH

Posted by: Twalib Haytham BADBESS | Jan 27, 2006 11:25:09 AM

Freedom of expression has its limits! There is no such thing as freedom of expression when it comes to depicting our Prophet (may peace be upon him) in that way. The cartoon shows how ignorant and narrow-minded the cartoonist and the newspaper are. Holy figures of Islam and any religion should not be mocked at! Where have the concept of religious tolerance and acceptance gone?

Posted by: DSH | Jan 27, 2006 2:35:25 PM

The muslims should not request an apology from any kafir (non muslim) if they on their own apologize then we must accept. The muslim must not go to the EU or the UN asking for any position on the matter. When muslims put their absolute trust in Allah as we were taught to do then Allah help will come and the enemies of Islam would be destroyed. When the muslims bind together they would become strong and would be a force to respect. The plan of the US is to weaken the muslim world one by one. The clever approach by the US was not to destroy the Kabah first...o no, this would have been a great mistake and would have started a world war. If they attempted this Iraq, Iran, Syria, Afghanistan, lybia and all other muslim countries would have ran to defend Saudi Arabia. But their plan is to dismantle these other countries knowing that Saudi Arabia would not aid their muslims when they are being attacked. When this is done and no other muslim state strong enough to give the US a fight is left standing, then like the lone sheep, they will attack Saudi Arabia from all sides.
The king of Saudi Arabia should invite the US president to Islam because he is his friend and this is what we do with our friends, we invite them to what is good and clean. Invite him to Islam and when he accepts and understand his true purpose in life, then all the terrorism will end.
As for the danish people responsible for these actions, I say to fear Allah, believe me, you do not know what grave wrong you have done.
To my muslim brothers and sisters in denmark I say please place your problems sincerely before Allah. Be sincere in your Duah and cry to Allah in the early hours before salatul fajr and ask Allah to guide those who have done this ugly thing to his way and wait for the help of Allah.

Posted by: naushad abu sarkin | Jan 27, 2006 2:36:21 PM

Can the newspaper make fun of the jewish holocaust in the name of freedom of speech?

can they do that without being accused of being Anti-Semitic? and be punished for that?

can any fair danish writer express his feelings and openion by publishing a request asking to boycott the Israelis?

i don`t think the coward prime minister of denmark can allow that!

Posted by: Zeyad | Jan 27, 2006 7:44:14 PM

Each and every muslim has reason to feel angry over the publishing of cartoons depicting our Prophet Mohammed, peace be upon him whom we respect and love more than anything in this world.
I can not believe that it is done because of ignorance but done provokingly to hurt the feelings of muslims.
If you read our Prophets biography and saying which are recorded with minute precision, anyone with little understanding will come to know that he was indeed a chosen messenger from God send not only to muslims but to all world.

Posted by: aburahman | Jan 28, 2006 2:47:44 AM

Mustafa,thanks for this quote from the Qu'ran; "Make war on them until idolatry shall cease and God's religion shall reign supreme." That about sums it up,doesn't it?

Naushad,I was not aware of the US plan to attack Mecca,but it seems like a bad move to me because words and ideas are ultimately more powerful than bombs.And instead of Bush converting to Islam,perhaps the Saudi king should convert to Christianity.Oh wait...that would be illegal,and might get him the death penalty!

Posted by: Dan | Jan 28, 2006 6:44:36 PM

Well dear Dan,
you don't seem to be someone who believes in other people's right to freedom of speech (at least not for someone who has been saying what you were saying here). Somewhere in the middle of your "dislike" to muslims, have you gotten into the wrong point here. If the denmarks have the right to say/do whatever they like about muslims, then I don't think that the muslims don't have any right to talk about it in "dislike" aswell. Somehow you have to admit that YOU have taken this discussion too far.
Personally, the way I was brought up, I was taught, that disrespecting someone else is only done in two situations, either I am trying to start a fight OR I myself am too coward and not decent enought to do otherwise. The danish should've been smarter before doing such a dumb act as that. Of all the cartoons someone could do in the world, I don't think that the Prophet's cartoon was the ONLY one available!! (makes you think if someone wants to provoke the muslims, doesn't it?)
I also find your "sarcastic" way of writing showing that you're not someone who should be taken seriously yourself.
Think better of what you say, and try to show your better "upbringing" by being a bit more polite.

Posted by: Jesus | Jan 28, 2006 10:41:13 PM

SALAM
Prophet (PBUH) said: no one can be a beliver untile he love me more than him self, his mother and his father....
and absoulutly more than COW's products...

http://saaid.net/Doat/shaya/15.htm

Posted by: saudi | Jan 28, 2006 11:53:58 PM

To Dan,
After reading all your comments and seeing all the hatred you have toward "Muslims" I feel sorry for you but I don't blame you. I wouldn't call you ignorant but misinformed like millions of people especially in the western world. People like you are misinformed because the image of muslims or let's say Arab world ( I bet Arabs or Muslims means the same to you and I bet tat you didn't now tha only 14% of Muslims in the world are Arabs and the rest are distribiuted around the world) anyway, I was saying that you see our image interepreted by the lens of Hollywood, CNN and other western medias. I'm not saying that all you see is not true but I'm saying that what you see represent a very very small percentage obviously the bad percentage of the reality of the muslim/ Arab world. Let me just mention something regarding your quotation of the Quraan "Make war on them until idolatry shall cease and God's religion shall reign supreme." This verse was directed to the Arab who were worshipping God made of clay. At the time of Muhammad (PBUH) the Arabs had about 300 Gods they wre worshipping and that verse is directed to them to fight them. Actually killing people is against Islam unless is to defend yourself. the small percentage of so called Muslims fundamentalist are not considere muslims in the eyes of the true muslims. If you want to talk about making wars let me remind you about the Crusades and the massacres they did in the name of Christianity. To go back to the subject of free speech. I'm with free speech and I think people have the right to free speech hoping that they don't abuse this right. I believe free speech should not be interepreted as it's ok to offend and make fun of religion, any religion. Having said that, the thing that I don't like is that why when it comes to muslims it's free speech but when it comes to others then it's taboo. Somebody mentioned it and I will mention it gain, why if somebody talks about the Holocust everybody condemn and they make a big fuss out of it. I heard that it's even considered a crime in Germany if somebody does not believe in the existing of the Holocoust. Shouldn't it be that everybody is free to belive whatever he likes? What do you think?
Another thing, I noticed that some of my muslims brother were pretty emotional in their writing and maybe they couldn't express themeselves and maybe their English is modest like mine. However I have to say that at least we are communcating with your language and I dare you be as artculate in our language as we are in yours. Some of my brother muslims mentioned something about jesus (PBUH) and that he is a muslim which is true and let me explain why. Anybody who believes in God is muslim and that is the real meaning of it. If you believe in one God then you are a muslim. Al Christian were called after Jesus Christ Christians but they are muslims because they believe in God. Moses, Abraham and all other prophets were muslims even before Islam came because they all believe in one God and all had the same message to Humanity. That's why we call them muslims in the meaning of believing in one God.
As to muslims killig muslims, I defend that by saying that fundamentalist killing muslims and that's different. Not anybody who was born muslim and they become fundamentalist it means they are real muslims. they mmight think they are muslims but they are not n the eyes of God nor in the eyes of the true muslims tat are peaceful. therefore those fundamentalist which you hate and I hate them more than you do are not muslims but they use islam and misrepresent it and that's unfortuanetlly what western people are getting the message that islam means violence and terrorism and that's not true.
We Arabas feel that our wealth and oil are stolen from us by westerns because that's the case. I agree with you that you are paying for it and maybe a high price but who is getting the money? Not us but our dictators and that's why we feel oppressed and the more you buy our oil the more our dictators will have power and the more we will be oppressed. I don't want to go into politics but I'm just explaining how we feel.
Finally, I'm inviting you to be more objective and to try to explore more Islam but this time with different eye glasses. May God give you the strength, the knowledge and guide you the right path.
Peace be with you.

Posted by: NR | Jan 29, 2006 3:42:27 AM


Allah ma ye'6reb eb 3e9a!

Posted by: Someone | Jan 29, 2006 4:28:31 AM

good question....
why talking about the Holocoust is a crime....???

"civilized freedom" which is the REAL FREEDOM must have red lines that nobody can cross theme...

May Allah Guide You to the Right Path...

Amen
Allah Knows Best

Posted by: P.B.U.H. | Jan 29, 2006 4:50:24 AM

prophet Mohammad is the greatest man in the human history . Although he was illiterate he tells us in the holy Qoraan about things which happened nowadays.for example he said that the earth is oval and then this was proved to be true centuries later. The holy Qoraan is full with things like that as it is the prophet Mohammad's greatest miracle .

Posted by: mahmoudelkadey | Jan 29, 2006 6:05:31 AM

whats wrong with u idiots would u like it if i made fun of ur religion haa stupidity thats what i calll it, this is our prophet this is our imam or r u too stupid to get that in ur head when u go to hell for this u will say im sorry im sorry and that wont help it will be to late and allah sob7ana wata3ala will not accept ur apoligy this is prophet mohammed this is not a game and im not joking k im seriouse f u and all the people who done this so shut up and stop drawing these pictures ur causing trouble and im alays ready for trouble if u want trouble here i am , u better be sorry and when ur in hell u will remember me , i am ready to make fun of ur religion and i know u will get angry but ur religion is wrong very very wrong so beter shut that big ugly moth of urs and be quit and stop drawing pictures that look like you izactly just like uve copied urself and paisted it there stupid idiots this prophet mohammed is the great and he is the crown on top ur heads!!! look how i think of him look how old i am compared to u and i know more than u know and im not stupid like u and im not a BABY to draw pictures of myself k ugly stinky hairy person whoever u are STOP IT OR ELSE I WILL MAKE YOU

Posted by: sarah | Jan 29, 2006 8:00:17 AM

look here, u r annoying all the muslims muslims have the right to be mad ,prophet mohammed is the greatest of them all this is not a game we are all seriouse look at the people from around the world they are all with prophet mohammed and they are all against u and ur stupid country i am ready to make u angry just like they are i can make fun of ur religion any time i want but were being kind here, PROPHET MOHAMMED IS A CROWN ON YOUR HEAD!! AND IS GONNA STAY THERE FOREVER IF U KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS IT MEANS THAT U R SAND UNDER HIS SHOES THATS HOW GREAT HE IS AND EVEN GREATER

Posted by: Sarah | Jan 29, 2006 8:06:21 AM

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