In 1860, Abraham Lincoln said this about the secessionists who blamed critics of slavery for the Civil War that was, as everyone knew by then, sure to come: “A highwayman holds a pistol to my ear, and mutters through his teeth, ‘Stand and deliver, or I shall kill you, and then you will be a murderer!'” (Thanks to Paul.)
And now we have the spectacle of Rab Nawaz Khan saying that a cartoon is a terrorist act. If any Muslim kills anyone over this cartoon, will Rab Nawaz Khan call that a terrorist act?
What do you think?
“Norway: Caricature = terror,” from Islam In Europe, June 7 (thanks again to Paul):
Pakistani ambassador to Norway, Rab Nawaz Khan, fears what will happen when the Norwegian Muhammad caricature published in Adresseavisen reaches the masses in large Muslim countries like Pakistan.
“Muslim societies all over the world will be insulted. Therefore it’s a terrorist act,” says the ambassador to TV 2.
He thinks the publication can cause strong reactions, and that people will lose control. He thinks this will also endanger Norwegian citizens’ lives. “People shouldn’t forget that there’s many Norwegian businesses in Pakistan,” he says….
Threat noted.