Posted on 02/06/2006 6:52:57 AM PST by areafiftyone
Twelve small drawings by obscure Danish cartoonists have set the Muslim world alight and sparked a global debate on the conflict between freedom of speech and religious tolerance.
New Zealand became the latest nation unwillingly drawn in at the weekend, after two newspapers ran the cartoons in a move likely to cost the country its $NZ100 million ($A92 million) sheep trade with Iran.
Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten — which has since apologised — commissioned the cartoons in September to highlight freedom of expression, and several other European newspapers have published them since.
One cartoon depicts the Prophet Muhammad wearing a bomb for a turban. Another has him standing in paradise before a parade of suicide bombers, saying: "Stop, stop. We have run out of virgins." In Islam, it is blasphemous to produce any image of the Prophet.
Tim Pankhurst, editor of Wellington's Dominion Post — owned by John Fairfax, which also owns The Age — said the paper published the cartoons as an issue of solidarity and press freedom, and he was not setting out to antagonise Muslims.
The New Zealand Government condemned the newspapers, but that did not stop Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad yesterday ordering the cancellation of economic contracts with countries where the media have carried the "repulsive" cartoons.
New Zealand diplomats in Muslim countries have been warned to take precautions against possible threats to staff and property.
NZ Prime Minister Helen Clark yesterday described the cartoons' publication as "gratuitous".
"New Zealand press is free and politicians don't say what the press can print and what it can't. It is a question of judgement and I don't think myself either the publication, nor the reaction to it, do anything to bring communities and faiths together here or around the world."
More than 700 angry Muslims marched through Auckland yesterday, many wearing black arm bands.
Pakistan Association of New Zealand president Naveed Hamid said his group had organised the march because Muslims wanted to make their hurt felt to the public.
"Something the media has to understand (is that) somebody's religion is not for insult," he said.
Also at the weekend, thousands of Syrian protesters set fire to the Danish embassy in Damascus; a Hamas leader in Palestine said publishing the cartoons was an "unforgivable insult" that should be punished with death; and Palestinians threw a firebomb at a French cultural centre in Gaza. There have been violent protests in Turkey and Lebanon, a peaceful protest in Afghanistan and many Muslims are boycotting Danish and other European goods. In Indonesia, up to 300 people invaded a building housing the Danish embassy in Jakarta and ripped up a Danish flag. Iran has recalled its ambassador to Denmark.
In Norway, the editor of the Magazinet newspaper, which reprinted the cartoons, said he had received 25 death threats and thousands of hate emails, while in Ireland the Daily Star joined other European papers in publishing the drawings.
In Jordan, Jihad Momani, the editor sacked for reprinting the cartoons, said his purpose had been merely to demonstrate the extent of the insult.
The Vatican yesterday appealed for mutual respect, saying the right of freedom of expression did not imply the right to offend "the religious feelings of believers".
Cardinal Achille Silvestrini, a retired Vatican diplomat, said: "Freedom is a great virtue, but it must be shared and it must not be unilateral. Freedom of satire that offends the feelings of others becomes an abuse and here we are talking about nothing less than the feelings of entire peoples who have seen their supreme symbols affected."
In Australia, Muslim leaders warned that publishing the cartoons would be "playing with fire".
Radical Melbourne cleric Sheikh Mohammed Omran said the reaction could be the same as overseas. Sheikh Omran said he did not believe anyone in Australia would be stupid enough to publish the cartoons, which insulted not just Muslims but Islam overall. "It's playing with our emotions, and who knows where emotions can lead?"
Australian Federation of Islamic Councils president Amir Ali said the cartoons would "create more bin Ladens", not fewer, and publishing them in Australia would inflame the situation. "Freedom of speech is OK, but it has its limits. Even under Western principles there is no freedom of the wild ass for anyone."
Victorian leader Sheikh Fehmi Naji el-Imam pleaded with Australian media not to publish the cartoons. "'It will inflame feelings among Muslims in Australia, and we don't want any activity which may disturb the peace and create an unpleasant atmosphere."
Andrew Jaspan, editor-in-chief of The Age, said yesterday he did not plan to publish the cartoons. Nor did Herald Sun editor-in-chief Peter Blunden, who said he was aware of the uproar the cartoons had caused and saw no need to publish them here.
"---- In Australia, Muslim leaders warned that publishing the cartoons would be "playing with fire".
Radical Melbourne cleric Sheikh Mohammed Omran said the reaction could be the same as overseas. Sheikh Omran said he did not believe anyone in Australia would be stupid enough to publish the cartoons, which insulted not just Muslims but Islam overall. "It's playing with our emotions, and who knows where emotions can lead?"
Australian Federation of Islamic Councils president Amir Ali said the cartoons would "create more bin Ladens", not fewer, and publishing them in Australia would inflame the situation. "Freedom of speech is OK, but it has its limits. Even under Western principles there is no freedom of the wild ass for anyone."
Victorian leader Sheikh Fehmi Naji el-Imam pleaded with Australian media not to publish the cartoons. "'It will inflame feelings among Muslims in Australia, and we don't want any activity which may disturb the peace and create an unpleasant atmosphere."
Andrew Jaspan, editor-in-chief of The Age, said yesterday he did not plan to publish the cartoons. Nor did Herald Sun editor-in-chief Peter Blunden, who said he was aware of the uproar the cartoons had caused and saw no need to publish them here. ---"
So, I guess that when some "artist" puts the next cross in a jar of urine, we Christians should just burn a few buildings down, threaten all artists and museums, and then they will get the idea and stop it?!??
This is so ridiculouos. I think Muslims enjoy being mad.
"Cartoon rage"... Never in a million years did I ever think that term would come into being. Can "Teddy bear rage" be far off?
BINGO!! They get a real thrill out of it. I think its about time the Western world starts to stand up to their tirades and temper tantrums and starts closing the door on them.
Bad news for cute Iranian camels.
Looks like the Mullahs will just have to settle for sloppy seconds on the sheep they already have...
This is about control of infidels.
First the muslims establish the boundries. They establish that you cannot offend they're religion in any way. They use the west's own systems to press this point. That is what the cartoon rage is about.
The next step, and the real brilliance of the plan is that with muslims EVERYTHING is about their "religion". Anything muslims want, anything they do, every move, ever whim, it's all driven by their cult. So, once they get the leftists to agree and begin catering to muslims in the name of multiculturalism and diversity, the muslims push the point. Sharia law, etc.
Checkmate.
Pakistan Association of New Zealand president Naveed Hamid said his group had organised the march because Muslims wanted to make their hurt felt to the public."Something the media has to understand (is that) somebody's religion is not for insult," he said.
"I'm not bad, I'm just drawn that way."
---Twelve small drawings by obscure Danish cartoonists have set the Muslim world alight and sparked a global debate on the conflict between freedom of speech and religious tolerance.---
This has nothing to do with religious tolerance. It has everything to do with appeasement. These Islamic thugs are threatening us! We're supposed to keep our mouths shut out of fear, not tolerance.
The next step, and the real brilliance of the plan is that with muslims EVERYTHING is about their "religion". Anything muslims want, anything they do, every move, ever whim, it's all driven by their cult. So, once they get the leftists to agree and begin catering to muslims in the name of multiculturalism and diversity, the muslims push the point. Sharia law, etc.
The link is no longer good.
Your link didn't get me there - I was censored!!LOL
Anger is the side effect of being a victimization addict.
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