Posted on 08/30/2007 1:24:54 PM PDT by Stoat
By David Ibison in Stockholm
Published: August 29 2007 23:11 | Last updated: August 29 2007 23:11
The growing dispute in Sweden is linked to rondellhund – roundabout dogs – which are amateur and usually humorous sculptures of dogs placed covertly on roundabouts around the country as a form of counter-cultural expression.
When Lars Wilks, a Swedish artist, decided to draw a shaky picture of a rondellhund in which the dog bore the head of Mohammed, it prompted debate in Sweden’s national newspapers about whether art galleries should carry the picture.
This depiction of the Prophet would be considered particularly insulting as dogs are widely held to be unclean in Islamic culture.
Ulf Johansson, editor-in-chief of Nerikes Allehanda, a regional newspaper in the city of Orebro, west of Stockholm, thought this debate worthy of further analysis and published the picture alongside an article discussing freedom of expression.
In Iran, however, the authorities reacted sharply. On Monday they summoned Sweden’s chargé d’affaires in Tehran to receive an official complaint about the publication of the picture.
On Tuesday, Iran’s president, Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad, blamed “Zionists” for being behind the Swedish cartoon because “their survival is in war”. He called on Muslims not to react, as “Zionists will be uprooted if there is peace in world”.
“It is not that important for Islamic governments to become mobilised,” he said. “When a mad person insults a scientist, he proves his own madness.” The cartoon, he added, would not be held against the Swedish people.
Sweden’s foreign ministry confirmed it had received a warning, but said it had not responded in any other way, apart from emphasising that “freedom of speech and the press are vital in Sweden”.
Mr Johansson has received threatening e-mails and has been forced to use a bodyguard. “Some said I would burn in hell,” he said.
Police have stepped up security around the newspaper’s office.
Local Muslims in Orebro staged a small, peaceful demonstration outside the newspaper’s office last Friday, but a much larger protest is planned for Friday, according to the Islamic culture centre in Orebro.
“If you had a picture of the Pope as a dog, people would think the Pope is no good,” he said. “So why is it OK to have a picture of the Prophet like that? It is now up to other Muslims in other towns to take action.”
The Islamic centre said that up to 800 people were expected at Friday’s demonstration, and added that Islamic centres around Sweden were being contacted and asked to join in.
Mr Johansson said he was simply trying to spur debate. “I thought it was a good opportunity to raise the issue of freedom of religion and speech in Sweden – not only for Swedes but for those Muslims living in Sweden,” he told the FT. “They have the right to protest here. That is really the point.”
Public reaction has been mixed. One writer to a newspaper website captured the mood: “I believe that freedom of speech is worth defending, but also think there are boundaries, even in Sweden, for what the media should print in the name of freedom of speech.”
In early 2006, cartoons of the Prophet were published in papers in Denmark, triggering violent protests – in which more than 100 people were killed – by Muslims worldwide and a boycott of Danish products.
Security experts have warned the internet could be used to spread the Swedish protests in coming weeks.
Sweden is one of the world’s most internet-connected countries, and the number of Muslims there has grown rapidly in recent years under a relatively open immigration policy.
It takes time to get all the press releases out, organize media coverage, assemble molotov cocktails and produce signage in poor English for international broadcasts.
Personally, I think the cartoon is insulting - to dogs! Sure they eat cat poop and then try to kiss us, or hump our legs, but really, do they deserve this kind of degrading treatment by some self-styled “artist”? How low will we sink?
so, where’s the pic? What are they afraid of?
Gotta get ahold of Outrage Boy’s agent and work up a contract.
>> It takes time to get all the press releases out, organize media coverage, assemble molotov cocktails and produce signage in poor English for international broadcasts.
ROFL! You beat me to a similar comment. Fairly obvious, isn’t it? Wonder why the MSM can’t understand that.
This thread is useless without pictures.
Which end of the dog was the head located?
Anywhere a muslim is in western nations they should be pointed at and made fun of.. we should all have cartoon pictures of Mohammed in our briefcases. When they stop beheading christians and allow christian freedom of speech and association in their nations, then I’m willing to change my tune.
Our elites have invited millions of muslims here while 99% of the citizenry is against it.
It truly is the religion of the perpetually offended.
This isn't it but it's a goody anyway. ;o)
As a dog owner and lover I am insulted. How dare they put that assclown’s head on a dog.
“If you had a picture of the Pope as a dog, people would think the Pope is no good”
Well, come to think of it, the Pope is German, and he IS a Shepherd.
goody indeed! funny...verrrry funny!
Death to anyone who disgraces Mohamhead.
Pray for W and Our Troops
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