Canadian Muslims Offended By Derogatory Cartoon

Islamonline ^ | 08/03/03 | IOL Canada Correspondent

[Pikamax]

Canadian Muslims Offended By Derogatory Cartoon

The offensive cartoon

By IOL Canada Correspondent

TORONTO, Aug 3 (IslamOnline.net) - The Muslim community here are irked by an extremely offensive cartoon that constitutes a flagrant mockery of the Islamic belief in Paradise and presents a stereotyped and distorted image of how Muslims conceive life after death.

The Toronto Sun newspaper published on July 24 a derogatory cartoon by caricaturist Andy Donato, who is said to be known for his hate for Islam and Muslims, showing the two sons of ousted Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, Qusay and Uday, being greeted by a Sheikh in Paradise, who rewarded them with two naked ugly women, one of them wearing a niqab (long veil that covers the entire face except the eyes), in a brazen mockery of Hur El-Ein (maidens of Paradise).

The cartoon reads: "Ah....Odai and Qusai. Welcome to Paradise. Here are the first of your many virgins."

The cartoon, breaking all laws of respect of religions and beliefs, has created uproar among Muslims in Toronto and all Muslims who saw the cartoon or heard about it. A flood of letters and complaints have been written to the editor of the newspaper Toronto Sun to express their condemnation to such defamatory attacks on Islam and its beliefs.

"The portrayal of such reputedly infamous men as Odai and Qusai Hussein being rewarded with obese virgins by God who is portrayed as an Arab steeps the Islamic creed in derision and incites contempt toward the beliefs which are cherished by hundreds of millions of Muslims worldwide," David Kolinsky, Toronto, wrote

Jeewan Chanicka, Toronto, said: "It is abhorrent and extremely rude that you would choose to make fun of two criminals by linking them to the faith of over one billion people. Such immature and vile depictions only serve to reinforce stereotypes and link criminal activity to a people’s faith and belief system."

Imam Shaaban Sherif, Imam of Al Rashid mosque, highly condemned the cartoon and considered it a campaign against Islam and Muslims.

"There are the insinuations that they offer in order to taint Islam and Muslims. They do not like this (spread of Islam) to happen," he said.

Scorn U.S., Sharon Instead

Sheikh Tamir Abu As-Su'ood, Imam of Edmonton Islamic School, condemned the cartoon and Donaldo’s way of defaming Islam, saying that he had better made fun of the U.S. or even Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

He challenged the caricaturist to do the same mockery of America who brought Saddam Hussein to power, compromised the lives of thousands of Iraqis under the disguise that they came for their freedom.

He further challenged him to do the same mockery of Sharon who holds up to 8, 000 Palestinians as hostages in Israelis jails and builds the separation wall amidst sepulchral silence from the whole world.

"…if the intent of the cartoon is to demonize Islam and Muslims, then you have to know that defamatory attacks on Islam only serve to harm our nation's image worldwide and divide Canada along religious lines," Sheikh Tamir addressed a gathering of Muslims in Friday prayer on August 1.

"Defamatory attacks on other faiths can only lead to a spiral of distrust and intolerance that will divide our society along religious lines."

He asserted that Muslims could never accept that any faith be attacked on account of its followers’ misdeeds.

Concluding his speech, Sheikh Tamir demanded the daily publish a formal apology for Muslims and hold the caricaturist accountable for offending the Muslims’ faith.

"Muslims can never accept but a formal apology from the Toronto Sun and a trial for Caricaturist Andy Donlado; otherwise a legal action should be taken to restore Muslims’ rights."

[Pikamax]

[Jay D. Dyson]

Nice.

Happy mudwrestling, guys!

; )

[MEG33]

A trial of the cartoonist? Not in America but who knows in Canada.

[It's me]

"Jeewan Chanicka, Toronto, said: "It is abhorrent and extremely rude that you would choose to make fun of two criminals by linking them to the faith of over one billion people."

I don't think the cartoonist linked Udai and Qusai to Islam... I think they linked themselves...

[truth_seeker]

"He asserted that Muslims could never accept that any faith be attacked on account of its followers’ misdeeds."

Isn't that precisely what the oh so holy Koran does, by calling for the killing of infidels...whose only crime is being non-muslim?

As for me, I find it entirely justified to attack THIS "faith" insofar as the dastardly deeds are done, so as to precisely follow instructions in their "good book."

Islam is justifiably on trial, in the court of public opinion, to demonstrate some actions, which mirror all of their "peaceful" utterances.

[jaykay]

I hope the cartoonist and newspaper are seeing to their security arrangements.

[Salvey]

Islam is justifiably on trial, in the court of public opinion, to demonstrate some actions, which mirror all of their "peaceful" utterances.

Don't hold your breath.

[debg]

"They do not like this (spread of Islam) spread of violence to happen," he said. "

[aardvark1]

Isn't that precisely what the oh so holy Koran does, by calling for the killing of infidels...whose only crime is being non-muslim?

Interesting you should bring this up. I just read an article this morning about 7 Christians and some people of other faiths that are facing the death penalty in Pakistan for "blasphemy" based on koranic law. Their crime...not Muslim.

[Imagine]

ISLAM SOLUTION

Islam is NOT a religion
– it is a CULT OF HATE

ACTION PLAN:

1) Assemble fleet of troop transport vessels in port cities; 2) move, via bus and/or train all US dwelling Muslims (immigrant or American Born Muslims ABM) to said ports; 3) Load all muslims onto ships, send forthwith to any middle east muslim country; 4) Bulldoze all mosques and islamic schools in US; 5) Concurrently, close borders with military; 6) Pop any American brewed beer, gloat over job well accomplished and relax.

[Theo]

has created uproar among Muslims in Toronto and all Muslims who saw the cartoon or heard about it.

Oh, now it's the Muslim Borg. What, there can't be any difference of opinion among adherants to that violent anti-Christ moon-god cult?

[MJM59]

I think that it is pretty damned funny! Me thinkest that the Islamic community is a bit thin skinned.

[Alouette]

Well, if they didn't like that one, they ain't gonna like this one either.

[skinkinthegrass]

Hey, They should be glad they're not Hillary and Janet Reno...or Segfred and Roy...Larry Flinyt and Helen Thomas....It should be HELL. :/

[skinkinthegrass]

Hey, They should be glad they're not Hillary and Janet Reno...or Segfred and Roy...Larry Flinyt and Helen Thomas....It should be HELL. :/

[Oberon]

Oddly enough, many Arab and Persian types wouldn't get the joke. The shapes of the women pictured in the cartoon are very close to the traditional middle-eastern feminine ideal.

[skinkinthegrass]

Islam is NOT a religion – it is a CULT OF HATE

1) Assemble fleet of troop transport vessels in port cities; 2) move, via bus and/or train all US dwelling Muslims (immigrant or American Born Muslims ABM) to said ports; 3) Load all muslims onto ships, send forthwith to any middle east muslim country; 4) Bulldoze all mosques and islamic schools in US; 5) Concurrently, close borders with military; 6) Pop any American brewed beer, gloat over job well accomplished and relax.

Good Start...I'm sure, more suggestions will be added. :)

[Redleg Duke]

Tough Shite, Towelheads!

[PBRSTREETGANG]

In America it would be NOW issuing a fatwah based on the depiction of the women.

[BayouCoyote]

He asserted that Muslims could never accept that any faith be attacked on account of its followers’ misdeeds.

LOL! I don't know where to start...

[BlackElk]

Uday and Qucay were expecting maybe Brittany Spears or young Sophia Loren look alikes after lives of persistent depredations?

Will the Muslim reaction to this cartoon turn the NOW gang into American nationalists?

In other news, the shrimp whistling chorus will perform Beethoven's Ninth against a backdrop of an airshow by Porky Pig's all-porcine Flying Circus.

[BlackElk]

Did you forget the Dixie Tricks? They ought to be there too.

[vigilo]

I'm offended by the existence of Canadian Muslims.

[Alouette]

Did you forget the Dixie Tricks?

No, I used their bodies, just put Helen Thomas', Hillary's and Jacko's heads on them. What shaheed could resist such pulchritude?

[MortMan]

In America it would be NOW issuing a fatwah based on the depiction of the women.

Do you mean a FATwah?

[BlackElk]

God is just. God is good!