And they may get it, as well. Is this America? The surrender to Sharia norms and collapse of a general understanding of the value of the freedom of speech is happening so rapidly, it’s extraordinary.
“Somali protestors demand teacher resign over Mohammed cartoons,” by Alex Stonehill and Alex Garland, Seattle Globalist, February 1, 2015 (thanks to Refugee Resettlement Watch):
Controversy over cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed hit home in Seattle recently, culminating in a protest outside of southend refugee service provider on Friday.
A group of Somali Americans gathered outside the Refugee Women’s Alliance (ReWA) on Martin Luther King, Jr. Way to demand the resignation of a teacher who showed the cartoons to her teenage students on the day after the Charlie Hebdo attacks in Paris.
“We’re not gonna be silent when it’s something that’s not right,” said Hassan Aden, who was one of between 15 to 20 people who attended the protest. “We’re trying to show that we’re not happy with what she did.”
The teacher, Deepa Bhandaru, recently earned her Ph.D from the UW Political Science department, and works for ReWA teaching a free class on world affairs for youth, where she showed the cartoons during a lesson on free speech and religious pluralism.
A post by the Stranger (where Bhandaru has written a number of film reviews and other articles) came to her defense, saying that she’d already sent lengthly [sic] letters of apology to her colleagues at ReWA and to a local mosque attended by some of her Somali students.
Bhandaru told the Stranger she thought the protest organizers were harping on the issue to score political points, and manipulating community members who didn’t speak English fluently. You can read the full post here (warning: the linked page contains a copy of one of the cartoons in questions).
My eyes! My eyes! Get the lye!
When protesters arrived Friday afternoon the ReWA offices were shuttered, with all staff gone for the day, and an official statement taped to the door (posted in full below).
Shahzad Qadri, a member of ReWA’s board of directors said the decision to close was based on fears for the safety of the staff, following incidents of vandalism early in the week.
“A lot of teenagers in our community were very angry and frustrated,” said Fatma Yessef, who attended the protest with her daughter Sumaya. “We told them we have to vent our frustration in a peaceful, nice way and say ‘you cannot do this to our prophet.’”
Like Yessef, many at the protest said they’d lived in the U.S. for decades and emphasized that they embraced American values of freedom of speech and religion. But more than one participant said they felt that showing the cartoons to youth had crossed a line, and insisted that they would only be satisfied if Bhandaru were fired.
Qadri said the decision about Bhandaru’s future at ReWA would be made based on an ongoing internal investigation, the results of which would be public.
“We serve a multicultural group. Seventy percent of our client base is of Muslim descent, and I myself am a practicing Muslim,” he said. “Our goal is never to offend anyone.”
For Yessef, who said she’s know Bhandaru several years, the apologies were too little too late.
“She should respect us as much as we respect her — her religion, her personality,” she said. “I don’t want to disrespect anybody for the way they are…I don’t think it’s free speech to talk about somebody’s religion, somebody’s beloved prophet like that.”

Carlos Danger says
The very first thing that these refugees need to learn is that the U.S. is a secular, pluralist society with freedom of speech. No better time to learn that than right now. don’t like that? those aircraft that brought you here fly both ways.
GungaDin says
I like your way of thinking !! WELL SAID !!
I add to your statement “Don’t let the door hit them in their collective arses on their way out “
voegelinian says
Merely believing in the idea that certain expressions of free speech are offensive and believing they should be punished, is not enough to deport a people who have such beliefs. If, however, those beliefs are sufficiently demonstrated to cohere in a larger context of an ideology that has been killing and plotting to kill us, is now killing us and plotting to kiss us, and plans to kill us in the future in any number of indeterminable attacks which we have good reason to suppose will only get worse (likely far worse than 911 and far more numerous than the successful attacks to date) — all ensconced in a supremacist-expansionist belligerence expressed as a millennial world war declared against us by their cult leader 1400 years ago whom they follow so slavishly and fanatically they riot and kill to protect his name & honor — then yes; they should be deported.
voegelinian says
“is now killing us and plotting to kiss us” should be of course “to kill us” — what a slip! If only! From my keyboard to Allah’s shin! Mashallah! 🙂
Don McKellar says
Wow does that collared and controled and covered muslima’s sign ever say it all. There truly is no comprehension as to what free speech means in her starved little brain. She “sounds” just like Obama or Cameron — except they know better and have even darker more nefarious motivations for holding the same position as her.
Richie says
Being such a liberal state, I fully expect the Muslims will be given whatever they want
Don McKellar says
Leftist, not liberal. Liberals demand free speech, leftists oppose it. Bill Maher is a liberal. Nancy Pelosi is a leftist. Big difference.
Richie says
Liberals are the ones who support Obaba, so most of them are no different than leftists.
Richie says
Liberalism is a mental disorder
KevinM says
Liberals claim to support free speech but their quicker to censer then the right. They use pretty titles like “political correctness” and “banning hate speech” but it comes down to banning anything they doh’t like. And Maher is an idiot who spouts blatent lies as if they were fact.
Richie says
If according to the sign held in the picture ‘Freedom of speech is not freedom to offend’ is true, then the offensive Quran should be banned
Richie says
there is a thin line an they often overlap, many liberals are leftists. Look at the degenerate Occupy Wallstreet movement- that cesspool movement was a mix of the hard left and idiot liberals
BC says
Free speech is always going to offend somebody
Lydia says
The American Teacher has Costitutinal Rights to speak freely.Sharia law is not American and they can go home and practice it there.Selah.
LeeCruz says
Im guessing that This newspaper thinks it is diverse and tolerant. If that is the case you need to stop referring to Mohammed as “the Prophet”. Not everyone believes he was a prophet. And stop deleting comments.
Matthieu Baudin says
It is their moral duty to badger us from here to eternity.
Lesley says
I’m not okay with people walking around with covered faces as the woman in the photo is doing. If you are so into your Muslim faith that you cover your face, I do not think you belong in any western country. I don’t think this is ‘modesty.’ In the West, bandits, bank robbers, and muggers cover their faces. People cover their faces to avoid identification, because they are up to no good.
If I were to decide that my ‘religion’ required that I wear a ski mask over my face for ‘modesty,’ how would this go over? Unless it is super cold, and you’re trying not to lose a facial feature to frostbite, covering of faces should not be allowed in the US.
This would solve the issue of any grumbling over who can show what cartoon. Dude, it’s a CARTOON. We don’t need people in the West who can be so offended by a drawing… of anything, or anyone. There are lots of Sharia $hit holes they can move to, instead.
Papa Whiskey says
If it’s apology Muslims want for an honest exercise of the right to free expression, they can find it in dictionary — between “anthropoid” and “asshole.”
Joe Shmo says
And this is why they will never win in the end. Free Speech is ultimately what has made Western civilisation so great. It’s led to science, democracy and better welfare for all. It’s also made Western cultures extremely powerful as opposed to the cultures that would reject it. As soon as enough people in the West realise this then they will be beaten.
And you should never have to apologise for showing cartoons.
somehistory says
You just can’t apologize to these people….it is a sign of weakness to them and they move in for the kill.
Quote:
“She should respect us as much as we respect her — her religion, her personality,
This woman who said that does not understand the word *respect*….she is showing nothing but disrespect to the woman who showed the cartoons and then….apologized. They never accept the apology…it is always *too little, too late* and followed by more demands….being fired, being killed…whatever they can get done.
The teacher should rescind the apology. The beast is only demanding more and it didn’t deserve the apology in the first place.
Wellington says
If you can’t offend, then you don’t have freedom of speech. Just like a Muslim to miss this. But then, Muslims miss so much.
Renee says
Don’t they have eyelids? They can close their eyes if it is offensive to them, or turn their heads. They are in control themselves! Don’t act like a victim if you have eyelids.
!!!There is enough freedom to close ur eyes!!!! (to cartoons (or unfortunately: to the darkness of islam).
mortimer says
The Muslims’ welcome is wearing thin in America. When they tell Americans they are not free in their home, it’s the beginning of the end.
I remember how un-charmed Americans were when they learned how Muslims hate dogs! This sort of thing will eventually convince even the hardest libertard that Muslims are not their friend.
mortimer says
Why ‘should’ we respect a figure with as many character flaws as Mohammed: womanizer, pedophile, faithless husband, godfather of assassins, genocide, ethnic cleanser, highwayman, enslaver, etc.?
Such a figure gets no respect from me.
Georg says
How you could move from Somalia to the US and be upset, even mildly perturbed, by anything… that takes the divine domain of Allah.
Also, I looked up the offending teacher- I demand she give me her #.
Please be Hindu Please be Hindu Please be Hindu…… 1 time!!!
jo says
She is a hindu as much as her name indicates. ..
Georg says
Should have figured as much, what with her being pleasant, empathetic, open-minded and all.
Anna says
If she is fired, then proof America just like Europe is already under Sharia. This fact being hidden but the evidence lies in who is punished for ” blasphemy”
As Voltaire said ” to discover who really rules you, find out who you are not allowed to criticise”
Another point, do Muslims think Muhammad is allah? Surely only allah can be blasphemed against, not a mere man who lived and died centuries ago ?
Is this not idolatory ?
Georg says
Think of it like this: If you’re somewhere where there’s squiggly writing, you can’t blaspheme Mohammad. And if you’re somewhere where there’s not squiggly writing, you still can’t blaspheme Mohammad*.
That seems to be the trend as of late.
*Or make plays involving transsexuals and Muslims, put heels on prayer rugs, burn a Koran, show respectful paintings of Mohammad painted by Muslims, you get the point.
Georg says
Oh, I almost forgot- don’t draw arguably offensive caricatures of Muhammad- that’s a bad one.
Arthur says
I am offended when people call for restrictions of offensive speech!!!
So, if the protestors really practice what they preach, they will immediately end their protest.
But, alas, they still protest. They must not really mean what they say.
Demsci says
“I am offended when people call for restrictions of offensive speech!!!”
Yes, you are, as am I, and many others. And also about the disrespect shown for not even trying to understand our reasons for this, which we have plenty.
Further more, these protesters cannot guarantees us that we or other humans are heavily hurt in THEIR feelings in the Islamic world. But there many Americans, Westerners, Jews are insulted deeply daily, in the newspapers,on the media. And of course as are infidels in the Quran. And she, the demonstrator, is not able to stop that. No, she only wants to, or knows how to stop the (reasonable) response!
Yes, we do have freedom to offend. we also ENDURE offense in this way, given also BY your co-religionists! I would like to say to her!
michelle says
I called and spoke with staff members, sharing that the teacher should receive no disciplinary action. Their agency mission is to help refugees learn to live and fit in our country, and the teaching moment was in this country we tolerate others religions and opinions. The staff were all very nice and were eager for me to talk to a supervisor- who I was told is monitoring the community reaction.
Please call them, politely let them know that our issue is the threats we get when we don’t do things the way the refugees want.
somehistory says
Just read an article about TX Rep Molly White and what she said about the muslim capitol day in Austin (started by cair in 2003)..
They want her to apologize…but she made a statement that she is not going to apologize.
Texas State Rep. demands Muslims declare allegiance to U.S. on day honoring Islam GOPUSA.com
G says
No Fear says
It is extremely important that everyone educates themselves about Mohammed ad his vile actions. When people like this complain then you simply tell them a few examples from Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim , Ibn Ishaq etc (make sure you quote chapter and verse) and point out what a criminal Mohammed was. Then ask them why should any one respect such a vile man.
No Fear says
Thanks for video link.
Salah says
“But more than one participant said they felt that showing the cartoons to youth had crossed a line”
But a “prophet” kissing a boy’s penis did not cross the line, did it?
Keep your heads down, Muslims!
http://crossmuslims.blogspot.ca/2012/03/grandpa-muhammad.html
Western Canadian says
Any follower of the religion of hate, islam (RTC), who carries a sign demanding that we lick their boots, should be subject to IMMEDIATE
Western Canadian says
Any follower of the religion of hate, islam (RTC), who carries a sign demanding that we lick their boots, should be subject to IMMEDIATE and PERMANENT deportation to the worst of the islamic hellholes.
Kristi says
Deport All evil / satanic / demonic muslims back to the middle east where they Belong NOW!!
The United States of America is an Judeo-Christian Nation!! Because of Judaism we have Christianity in our Judeo-Christian Nation USA!!
Love and Shalom Everyone, YSIC \o/
Kristi
http://kristiann1.com
Champ says
Love your website, Kristi!
David says
Support you 100% percent. F yeah!
No Fear says
Give the woman a pay rise.
citycat says
We have advance warning of Islam
Satellite communication is a war tool not known for long
The controllers motives are in doubt
Therefore word of mouth must increase in the infidel world
Angemon says
You mean, muslims? Let’s call a spade a spade, mkay?
Allan says
What this numskull in the photo (oops I offended her again) does not realised is that her attack on free speech offends me and great many others. And so by default her very placard is offensive! What now?
But my response is basically to ignore the silly cow or give are a lecture in logic and consistency but certainly NOT shot her or anything like that. But equally not to give in in any way.
Rachel says
Some day, thanks to Shariah law, we’ll all have the legal right to not be offended…and it will be a very, very quiet world indeed. The silence is already utterly sickening.
Mike says
. What’s the point of free speech if you can’t offend? The point of the 1st Amendment is to protect disagreeable speech This really is the twilight zone.
Allan says
What this numskull in the photo (oops I offended her again) does not realised is that her attack on free speech offends me and a great many others. And so by default her very placard is offensive! What now?
But my response is basically to ignore the silly cow or give her a lecture in logic and consistency (let her read her own Koran but swapping the words believer and Muslim for unbeliever and Jew/Christian/polytheists etc. and see how offensive by her own standards the Koran is) But we would certainly NOT shoot her or anything like that. But equally we should never give-in, in any way at all.
Lady you are entitled to believe silly things and I am entitled not to and say so.
mgoldberg says
“She should respect us as much as we respect her — her religion, her personality,” she said. “I don’t want to disrespect anybody for the way they are…I don’t think it’s free speech to talk about somebody’s religion, somebody’s beloved prophet like that.”
——
Others made important points but this one too needs mention: They proffer that ‘she should respect us as much as we respect her’- tell me, how do muslims respect any other persons, by berating their cultural and religious convictions as they do. Jews, Christians, Hindhus, Buddhists, all are attacked for their religious beliefs and then under the guise that their beliefs threaten muslim ‘values’ and sensitiviities. And for the record, you can question the belief system of any of those faiths founders, and not be under the threat of murder and rage by the believers of those religions. Only Islam rages and threatens to rage if you discuss their founder. And indeed… since they claim his character should be followed as the example of the perfect human being- then by all means, discuss his character, because indeed- it is defective, deficient, and that is what Islam disallows- any mention by anyone- and especially non muslims, of that person.
duh_swami says
Pam Geller is right, The answer to the cartoon problem is more and better cartoons. A cartoon speed up not a slow down. if the ‘Somali Americans’ don’t like that, there’s always a bus to the airport.
mortimer says
More cartoons and more surveillance of terrorist suspects. They’ll give up when they know they’re being observed at all times.
voegelinian says
Wow, such optimism! I wish the problem were as tidy and small as mortimer seems to think.
mortimer says
The student said, “I don’t think it’s free speech to talk about somebody’s religion, somebody’s beloved prophet like that.”
This kid’s no lawyer for sure. The Supreme Court has decided on blasphemy:
-Justice Clark in 1952 wrote: “…it is enough to point out that the state has no
legitimate interest in protecting any or all religions from views distasteful
to them. … It is not the business of government in our nation to suppress real
or imagined attacks upon a particular religious doctrine.”
-Justice Frankfurter noted that beliefs “…dear to one may seem the rankest ‘sacrilege’ to another,” and added concerning “sacrilegious” speech: “…history does not encourage reliance on the wisdom and moderation of the censor.”
Lu says
Excellent comments and excerpts, Mortimer. I am becoming a bit worried about the whole “blasphemy” and “Islamophobia” thing – I do understand that the 1st Amendment is protecting us – here in the US – from being sued (by THEM) but it seems to me that sharia creeps in step by step, every day they are more brazen.
So my question is: can I have trouble with the law enforcement in the US (for sure in Europe!) for overtly speaking up AGAINST Islam?
Rob Crawford says
Given the number of Somali “refugees” who have returned there, clearly there’s no danger. Send them all home, particularly the ones who don’t like living around Americans.
voegelinian says
On one level, ostensibly, Muslims are confusing two things that should be kept distinct:
1) what people should do out of having manners and etiquette, in terms of respecting other people’s feelings
2) what a society should physically punish by means of laws.
For things that fall under #1, as much as we may believe they are right and valuable for society, all we can do is try to persuade people to do them, in the marketplace of ideas, through education (which includes public persuasion, discussions, debates, pop culture, arts, etc.), and child-rearing.
The modern West with certain exceptions in Europe (such as the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) which although they “purport to recognize the freedom of expression”; the former containing an Article obligating signatories to make “all dissemination of ideas based on racial superiority or hatred” a punishable offense, and the latter requiring outlawing “any advocacy of national, racial, or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility, or violence”) maintains that freedom of expression that may offend an individual’s or a group’s sensibilities people fall under #1, not #2. The aforementioned exceptions are unfortunate (and in this regard the U.S.A. in being freer of such a hypersensitive legal culture, is superior), for they foster a climate that can lead to more serious abridgement of free expression, such as what Muslims want (and we can generalize about Muslims, given that the O.I.C., which represents all 56 nations, has also been pushing for this form of Sharia law against blasphemy.
Which brings me to the second level: For, Muslims are not merely confusing #1 and #2 out of ignorance or confusion of mind or intellectual disability; they are deliberately fusing #1 and #2 into an indissoluble whole, whose meaning makes sense only in terms of the supremacism and hatred of all non-Muslims which is hardwired into the blueprint of their Islam, codified in their Koran & Sunna, and inculcated in their culture on all levels, from the family to school to mosque to the public square to politics to laws.
Sheila Novitz says
As Ayaan Hirsi Ali so wisely said, Muslims will always be hurt and offended and “discriminated against”, until they are in charge of the entire western world. So, wait for it. Their nonsense will stop when they’re in charge. And then they’ll set about looking for something else to do, such as beheading all the infidels: us.
Lioness says
A bunch of REFUGEES have the audacity to protest in the country that gave them asylum? This is what happens when you bring filthy muslims into your country. We already know they are against free speech and western values. What comes next? Jihad.
G says
Why do people that don’t understand or believe in the US Constitution and Bill of Rights immigrate to America? If Muslims want to oppress the freedoms that are guaranteed by our laws and force their beliefs on others, they need to go hack to the Mideast.
rabrooks says
Right on the money G. My question to them is “look around this is the US. This is how we live. Didn’y you know what is was like before YOU choose to come HERE?” Their answer will clarify it all.
1. They didn’t know what they were getting into and intentionally reject the new culture, and never asimilate. Leads to anger and confusion.
or
2. They knew exactly what they were geting into and never had any intention of assimilating. They will force their way of living on the new host country. Leads anger and frustration.
However the response is usually just anger.
Either way, the ends are the same. Confusion, anger, isolation and ,alienation and later fear because of the unfamiliar/unknown. Jusrt a recipie for disaster..
jorgmrk says
ReWA has a broad base of funding, including federal and local governments.
If Rewa doesn’t follow 1st amend Then no federal funding
Matt Kline says
Freedom of speech is not free if one cannot offend. It is for this very reason we have a Constitutional right to free speech. We are free to offend.
Religion should be no more protected than any other topic.
rabrooks says
The headline does not read completely. She is a teacher, at a free refugee center. This is where this took place. The people there should get rubbed the wrong way. They are being introduced to a new country, with new rules, values and customs. These are the things that any new citizen must learn.
That is the key! They have no desire to “enculture” to their new place. I say place because they will never be able to call this home, unless they become part of the new culture. Their ideology will force them to reamin outsiders no matter how long they live there.
Sheri says
“Those who profess Islam do not understand their own religion or pervert it for their own political ends.” – The Shah of Iran
Champ says
“…NOT freedom to offend”
…double standard alert!
Truth says
Muslims don’t waste time drawing cartoons about non-Muslims, they just kill non-Muslims.