Everywhere it’s the same story: someone who says or writes something that is considered, rightly or wrongly, to be critical of Islam or (as in this case) of a group closely tied to an Islamic endeavor (in this case, the jihad against Israel), and the response from Muslims is death threats and calls for censorship. Even worse, a growing number of groups in the West support voluntary self-censorship, refraining from saying or do anything that might upset the ever-so-delicate sensibilities of Islamic supremacists.
Maybe Majida Shaheen can get out of Gaza and share an apartment with Molly Norris.
An update on this story. “Gaza political cartoonist faces censorship, death threats,” by Asmaa Al-Ghoul for al-Monitor, February 26:
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — A controversy erupted Jan. 22 when artist Majida Shaheen drew and published a cartoon on her Facebook page depicting Gaza Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh trying to tame an angry dog with the name “Al-Quds Brigades” — the military wing of Islamic Jihad — written on its collar. The cartoon is an allusion to the attempts of the Gaza government to prevent resistance factions from launching rockets against Israel.
The artist was threatened and cursed on her Facebook page. When Al-Monitor sent Shaheen a message requesting an interview, she refused, saying, “I am facing threats and pressure. I cannot do any interviews.”
The majority of threats the artist faced seemed to come from angry citizens, who considered the cartoon offensive to the resistance movements, especially Islamic Jihad.
For his part, Islamic Jihad spokesperson Daoud Shehab denied that his organization threatened Shaheen.
“No one attacked her officially from the part of the movement. I followed up on the comments on Facebook, and these comments do not express our point of view. We consider her to be merely an unknown artist seeking fame,” Shehab noted.
He added that even though friends of the movement spoke in favor of filing a complaint against Shaheen with the Journalists Syndicate, they did not do so. “Every person has the right to express their convictions. Yet we were upset with the indecent approach, which is not part of freedom of expression,” Shehab added….
Diane Harvey says
In the loony Muslim world, it’s pretty easy to find some other Muslim to accuse another of not being Muslim enough. With predictable consequences.
And who’s ever around to correct the accuser?
inquisador says
Let’s make an appeal:-
No more tolerance of the intolerant. (see Karl Raimund Popper)
No more tolerance of outright lies about Islam.
It’s gone far enough.
Time to make a resolution: that we stick to telling the resolute truth about islam; however unpalatable, and no more appeasement. No more white lies or apologies for what is the murderous cult. No sweeping denunciations of all muslims (naturally, and no one would, would they?)
Let’s be proud and accurate in our dissemination of the plain truth.
mortimer says
Free speech dies under Sharia law. Only one party can represent ‘ALLAH’, so the other parties are heretics who must be ‘dealt with’.
CaoMoo says
Unfortunately it’s not the only thing that dies under Sharia law.
flylink says
” Yet we were upset with the indecent approach, which is not part of freedom of expression,” Shehab added…”
These folks can sure talk in circles…
Champ says
“The artist was threatened and cursed on her Facebook page.”
More threats? Big surprise!
Salah says
“Maybe Majida Shaheen can get out of Gaza and share an apartment with Molly Norris.”
“Satire is Religion – The debate over cartoons and prophets is not just about free of speech; it’s about freedom of religion.”. Austin Dacey
Draw Muhammad Day
http://crossmuslims.blogspot.com/2010/05/drawing-muhammad-dessiner-mahomet.html
EYESOPEN says
I think what was really “offensive” to the muzzies was the depiction of the “al Quds” brigades as a dog, rabid or otherwise. Too bad Bowser!
nacazo says
Rabid dogs are offended that they were compared to alquds brigade…
onisac says
It accurse to me, “If your wondering who rules over you.
Simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize you”.
by Voltair
Strangely enough, some nations have wants known as free speach ‘
onisac says
Correction:
It accurse to me, “If your wondering who rules over you.
Simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize ”.
by Voltair
Strangely enough, some nations have wants known as free speech ‘