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An update to this report. From The Copenhagen Post, with thanks to Fjordman and DP111:
Death threats have forced daily newspaper Jyllands-Posten to hire security guards to protect its employees, after printing twelve cartoons featuring the prophet Mohammed.The newspaper has been accused of deliberately provoking and insulting Muslims by publishing the cartoons. The newspaper urged cartoonists to send in drawings of the prophet, after an author complained that nobody dared to illustrate his book on Mohammed. The author claimed that illustrators feared that extremist Muslims would find it sacrilegious to break the Islamic ban on depicting Mohammed.
Twelve illustrators heeded the newspaper's call, and sent in cartoons of the prophet, which were published in the newspaper earlier this month.
Muslim spokesmen demanded that Jyllands-Posten retracted the cartoons and apologised.
'We have taken a few necessary measures in the situation, as some people seem to have taken offence and are sending threats of different kinds,' the newspaper's editor-in-chief, Carsten Juste, told national broadcaster DR.
The same day as the newspaper published the cartoons, it received a threatening telephone call against 'one of the twelve illustrators', as the caller said. Shortly afterwards, police arrested a 17-year-old, who admitted to phoning in the threat.
Since then, journalists and editors alike have received threats by email and the telephone. The newspaper told its staff to remain alert, but then decided to hire security guards to protect its Copenhagen office.
'Up until now, we have only had receptionists in the lobby. But we don't feel that they should sit down there by themselves, so we posted a guard there as well,' Juste said.
Muslim organisations, like the Islamic Religious Community, have demanded an apology, but Juste rejected the idea. He said the cartoons had been a journalistic project to find out how many cartoonists refrained from drawing the prophet out of fear.
'We live in a democracy,' he said. 'That's why we can use all the journalistic methods we want to. Satire is accepted in this country, and you can make caricatures. Religion shouldn't set any barriers on that sort of expression. This doesn't mean that we wish to insult any Muslims.'
Hopefully, Mr. Juste will stand by his committment and not capitulate to those who do not believe in democratic principles.
Posted by at October 12, 2005 6:46 PM
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Well, this is what I meant in my discussion with
Dr. Dawg. It is a regrettable ncessity that this normally unsavory activity take place, because of the real threat to freedom engendered by muslims, who seem especially prone to violent overreaction.
I disagree (logically, not in what I suspect was his intent) with Mr. Juste's statement that because he
lives in a democracy, this sort of thing is OK.
That he lives in a democracy says nothing about
what the freedom of speech laws are. You can elect
leaders who'll trample minority rights, and have
dictators who permit a wide range of freedoms.
He really means to say that he lives in a secular
Western nation with such and such tradition, and such and such constitution, etc.
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at October 12, 2005 7:14 PM
This is yet another typical example of why the West has to get real and take action, to protect itself against the barbarian infil-traitors.
The sons of Allah, who cannot be brought to raison and cause civil unrest, strive, intimidation, blackmail, must receive a clear warning:
All Mohammedans who are determined to follow the Jihad stratagem of warfare against unbelievers and Jews in any form, should expect the full force of the law, resulting in swift implementation of Internment and deportations, enforced by the military and the police of the respective countries that they have managed to invade.
The gloves must come off!
Posted by: sheik yer'mami at October 12, 2005 7:49 PM
I'd like to help these people with money. Where do I buy a copy of the Jyllens-Post with the mohamed pictures? Are the cartoon available online anywhere?
Posted by: 3812Michelle at October 12, 2005 8:00 PM
The outrage of muslims in Denmark for what seems to be a fairly trivial slight, leads me to believe that far from the newspaper/artists, having strayed too far, it is the muslim community that is in dire need of having their prejudices challenged.
I'm afraid that challenges to their prejudices/faith, is going to occur with increasing frequency and with far greater intellectual force then a few cartoons. Now mohammed himself did not take too kindly to writers, and had a female poet assasinated (I'm going from memory here). So if muslims are following his example, I would suggest they take care. There are just so many Theo Van Goghs that the West is prepared to tolerate, before state action becomes inevitable.
Muslims had better start getting used to ever increasing questioning, criticisms, ridicule and even lampooning of their faith. If they can't stand it without resorting to violence, they and their faith will be consumed.
1.00 am in Britain and time to hit the sack. Goodnight all.
Posted by: DP111 at October 12, 2005 8:03 PM
Perhaps Islam could promulgate a list of activities which don't offend Muslims? It should fit on a Post-It note. I'll ride my donkey down to the local mosque and pick it up.
Posted by: Beagle at October 12, 2005 8:41 PM
Here they are,
http://pics.jp.dk/nybillede/?sek=0&id=2253
at October 12, 2005 8:45 PM
Thanks, Carolyn.
Posted by: 3812Michelle at October 12, 2005 8:50 PM
This one is still the best:
http://islamcomicbook.com/lyrics.htm
Posted by: sheik yer'mami at October 12, 2005 9:16 PM
Eric stated:
Hopefully, Mr. Juste will stand by his committment and not capitulate to those who do not believe in democratic principles.
Additional editors with a spine should support Mr. Juste and make a point of protecting free speech NOW by either offering a the public a vote for the best depiction or providing reprints of the effort in every daily newspaper in the region.
Posted by: miira at October 12, 2005 9:51 PM
Thanks, Carolyn2, you always come up with interesting links.
This editor deserves praise for his courage. Every little bit helps. Sooner or later members of the public will begin to understand that the muslims are protesting about little bitty things that we have ignored/tolerated/endured for years. The public needs to see that the muslims demand special treatment. Cartoons are one of the ways to show them.
Another way is to glorify cute little pigs and dogs.
Posted by: texan at October 12, 2005 11:01 PM
An interesting thing - and a reflection on the reality of freedom of speech involved here - is that a number of cartoonists did not seem to have any hostile or mocking intent towards the prophet. Four or five just drew harmless portraits of Arabs, and a couple actually used the opportunity - my Danish is a bit off these days, but the context was clear - for criticizing Jyllands-Posten itself for looking for trouble. People who live in a tradition of free speech cannot imagine why this should be offensive to anyone.
Posted by: Paolo at October 12, 2005 11:53 PM
I've followed this for the last few days, now.
From the original post, through the 129 responses to the follow-up, and now this--the inevitable threats.
But the newspaper took the low road, IMO, when the high road could have been so easily taken.
Had the author and the newspaper requested drawings of Mohammad, the man, rather than cartoons of him, which can very easily be seen by many as provocative, then the ball would have been squarely in their court.
Muslims have every right to be offended by such cartoons, but they do not have the right to impose their religious beliefs upon others. An opportunity to demonstrate that Muslim prohibitions against drawing pictures of beings with souls is an Islamic tenet to which non-Muslims are not beholden has been squandered.
Indeed, the author and the newspaper gave Muslims another opportunity to cry foul and have others believe it.
Posted by: PRCS at October 13, 2005 2:41 AM
Waaaat a yukkkky fellow (click to enlarge):
Looks like an evill murderering scum all right
http://www.iranian.ws/gallery/displayimage.php?album=random&cat=4&pos=-1589
Posted by: leavingtheleft at October 13, 2005 7:47 AM
Thanks, Carolyn2, you always come up with interesting links.
Thank you, Texan
at October 13, 2005 11:23 AM
My favorite was the one where the little crescent over mo's head looks like two horns o' satan. (However, although mo was almost certainly the spawn of satan, I don't think he was satan himself)
Posted by: Infidel33 at October 13, 2005 3:34 PM
Nooooeeh.. the picture the quality ain't that good, damn they did not have Kodak.. or even Eastman Kodak those day....!
I bet Fuji would been great..! but guest what shlouki..(Hebrew) word for empty heard that is not the point..! you running around like a little girl-in-school-brake-at-yard playing..Oooh I found it..damn I mean find and seek..!
The point is the act..it does not matter how it's why that is important..!..if you are smart enough and you need something that has no direct benefit to you would Unger lots of people do you do it..! if you do then you are dump enough and you sure deserve whatever is coming to you...! take it-u=i-t+a..ok duchy dorky or was it danny nanny..!
So why thy did it….freedom of speech my 9ner, It must all that bad fragmenting cheese…!
at October 13, 2005 7:37 PM
HUH?
Posted by: Carolyn2 at October 13, 2005 9:29 PM
Carolyn2:
First, I think he's criticizing you for finding the link to the cartoons.
Then he's saying that the Danish will have to pay whatever price is necessary (i.e. slaughter) for the "offense" of "angering" many people. Of course the only people who retaliate this way in an open, democratic society with FREE SPEECH are - you guessed it - muslims.
Posted by: CGW at October 14, 2005 11:06 AM
CGW,
Agreed. He's supporting violent reaction to the cartoons.
KT, a friend of yours?
Prophet Geoff
BBUH
PS: Come get me "Kahenn", you pathetic punk.
Posted by: Geoff at October 14, 2005 5:12 PM
you running around like a little girl-in-school-brake-at-yard playing..Oooh I found it..damn I mean find and seek..!
Actually I didn't have to search for the link...I knew exactly where to go to find it in about 1 minute. Is your head exploding yet? Muslim rage will do that you know.
at October 14, 2005 8:56 PM
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