Muslims protest against cartoons lampooning the Prophet: ISLAM AND FREEDOM OF SPEECH

Dubai _ Muslim governments, clerics and parliamentarians are raising their voices in protest against the Danish government for not acting against cartoons published in a Danish newspaper portraying Islam's Prophet Mohammed as a terrorist. The Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), the world's largest Islamic political group made up of 57 member states, on Saturday called on Muslims to stick to peaceful protests and said Denmark should ''categorically condemn'' the cartoons published last September in Jyllands-Posten, in which the Prophet is shown wearing a turban shaped as a bomb.

Islam does not allow the depiction of Prophet Mohammed, even if it is respectful, because of concern that it could lead to idolatry.

But a few days ago a Norwegian Christian magazine published the same set of controversial caricatures that ignited the row.

On Sept 30, Jyllands-Posten newspaper ran an article about freedom of speech centring on the issue that artists were unwilling to illustrate the Prophet without remaining anonymous for fear of extremist attacks.

The paper accompanied the article with 12 depictions of Prophet Mohammed by various Danish illustrators.

Saudi Arabia, the cradle of Islam, has denounced the cartoons and has recalled its ambassador from Denmark for consultations.

Danish-based food company Arla said last Friday that it would advertise in Saudi newspapers to distance itself from the row, after facing a consumer boycott in Saudi Arabia.

''The advertisements will be published in leading national newspapers,'' said spokeswoman Mette Schouby.

Saudi Arabia accounts for two thirds of Arla's sales in the Middle East that total some US6 million.

Some members of Kuwait's parliament on Saturday called on the government to take diplomatic and economic measures against Denmark over what they said was disrespect shown for Islam's Prophet.

The members of parliament commended Kuwaiti merchants who have decided to boycott Danish products in the emirate.

Danish dairy products were set ablaze on Friday in Bahrain and the anger over the caricatures was also evident in the numerous mobile text messages urging the boycott, according regional newspapers.

The Bahraini newspaper Gulf Daily News said the Islamic blocs al- Asala and al-Menbar have urged supporters to gather after Friday prayers for demonstrations all over the country in condemnation of the caricatures.

Representatives from all parliamentary Bahraini blocs have also signed an urgent request for an extraordinary session to discuss the issue, after a meeting Saturday.

Al-Menbar MP Shaikh Mohammed Khalid Mohammed urged people to stop buying Danish and Norwegian products until both countries apologise.

''So what if businesses in Bahrain will be affected, Islam is far more important than anything,'' he said.

In the emirate of Dubai, one of the seven sheikhdoms that make up the United Arab Emirates, a top scholar said all Muslim governments should recall their ambassadors from Denmark and boycott its products.

''Those are provocative cartoons that come from sick-minded and irresponsible people,'' said the scholar, Ahmad Abdul Aziz Al Haddad, quoted by the local newspaper Gulf News.

The Muslim World League (MWL) Secretary-General Abdullah al-Turki condemned the cartoons in a letter addressed to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, saying Muslims around the world felt very offended.

The Saudi-based MWL is a non-government organisation in charge of defending Muslim causes and disseminate Islamic teachings.

Earlier, Jordan's lower house of parliament criticised the publication of the cartoons.

Denmark's Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who has refused to meet with ambassadors from Muslim nations over the issue, has said that since freedom of speech is firmly protected in his country, complaints should be handled in court. dp

THERE IS NO FREEDOM OF SPEECH IN ISLAM!

KORAN [9.29] Fight those who do not believe in Allah, nor in the latter day, nor do they prohibit what Allah and His Apostle have prohibited, nor follow the religion of truth, out of those who have been given the Book, until they pay the tax in acknowledgment of superiority and they are in a state of subjection.

KORAN [9.30] And the Jews say: Uzair [Ezra] is the son of Allah; and the Christians say: The Messiah is the son of Allah; these are the words of their mouths; they imitate the saying of those who disbelieved before; may Allah destroy them; how they are turned away!

KORAN [9.31] They have taken their doctors of law and their monks for lords besides Allah, and (also) the Messiah son of Marium and they were enjoined that they should serve one God only, there is no god but He; far from His glory be what they set up (with Him).

KORAN [9.32] They desire to put out the light of Allah with their mouths, and Allah will not consent save to perfect His light, though the unbelievers are averse.

Hadith Sahih Muslim, Book 19, Chapter 41: THE MURDER OF KA'B B. ASHRAF, (THE EVIL GENIUS) OF THE JEWS [for authoring songs and jokes about Muhammad]

HADITH Sahih Muslim [19:4436] It has been narrated on the authority of Jabir that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said:
Who will kill Ka'b b. Ashraf? He has maligned Allah, the Exalted, and His Messenger. Muhammad b. Maslama said: Messenger of Allah, do you wish that I should kill him? He said: Yes. He said: Permit me to talk (to him in the way I deem fit). He said: Talk (as you like). So, Muhammad b. Maslama came to Ka'b and talked to him, referred to the old friendship between them and said: This man (i. e. the Holy Prophet) has made up his mind to collect charity (from us) and this has put us to a great hardship. When be heard this, Ka'b said: By God, you will be put to more trouble by him. Muhammad b. Maslama said: No doubt, now we have become his followers and we do not like to forsake him until we see what turn his affairs will take. I want that you should give me a loan. He said: What will you mortgage? He said: What do you want? He said: Pledge me your women. He said: You are the most handsome of the Arabs; should we pledge our women to you? He said: Pledge me your children. He said: The son of one of us may abuse us saying that he was pledged for two wasqs of dates, but we can pledge you (cur) weapons. He said: All right. Then Muhammad b. Maslama promised that he would come to him with Harith, Abu 'Abs b. Jabr and Abbad b. Bishr. So they came and called upon him at night. He came down to them. Sufyan says that all the narrators except 'Amr have stated that his wife said: I hear a voice which sounds like the voice of murder. He said: It is only Muhammad b. Maslama and his foster-brother, Abu Na'ila. When a gentleman is called at night even it to be pierced with a spear, he should respond to the call. Muhammad said to his companions: As he comes down, I will extend my hands towards his head and when I hold him fast, you should do your job. So when he came down and he was holding his cloak under his arm, they said to him: We sense from you a very fine smell. He said: Yes, I have with me a mistress who is the most scented of the women of Arabia. He said: Allow me to smell (the scent on your head). He said: Yes, you may smell. So he caught it and smelt. Then he said: Allow me to do so (once again). He then held his head fast and said to his companions: Do your job. And they killed him.

© Religion of Peace

KORAN: http://www.hti.umich.edu/k/koran/
HADITH: http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/reference/searchhadith.html

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Cartoonists VS Islam