Swedish museum: "Removal of art was not caused by email threats"

Ali Dashti has kindly sent along this additional information about the incident I posted about here, "Museum removes erotic art after Muslim anger."

Ali's translation of extracts from Swedish article:

http://www.expressen.se/index.jsp?a=237428

"The world's largest superpower cannot protect itself, so how are you to protect yourself," it said in one of the threatening emails the museum received. "Do you want to start a war with Muslims everywhere?" it said in another. In one, museum director Jette Sandahl was encouraged to "learn from Holland." The email refers to the murder of Theo van Gogh Novemver 2nd 2004 for his "blasphemous" film about Islam.

http://www.thelocal.se/article.php?ID=932&date=20050204&PHPSESSID=0ed6f0ff44d6677dcbe2fe9c0f6ac0e4

The museum, however, insists that the "threats" it received have nothing to do with the removal of the work; it seems they don't want to feel that they can be bullied. Jette Sandahl, the museum's director, told the press that the removal is all about focus: the exhibition was meant to be an educational one about HIV/AIDS, not freedom of expression, and she is simply attempting to bring the focus back.

Posted by Robert at February 8, 2005 7:11 AM
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