Likewise, we should never forget the Muslim backlash to freedom of speech -- including mass riots, burned buildings and cars, and dead Christians. See here for a long list of Muslim "reactions" to the "cartoon controversy," arranged by country. "Muslims to appeal cartoon case," from News 24, July 31: The publication of satirical cartoons of the Islamic prophet Muhammad in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten on September 30, 2005 led to violence, arrests, inter-governmental tensions, and debate about the scope of free speech and the place of Muslims in the West. Many Muslims claim that any image of Muhammad is blasphemous, while many Westerners have defended the right of free speech. A number of governments, organizations, and individuals have issued statements defining their stance on the protests or cartoons (from wikipedia):
Flag of Afghanistan Afghanistan
President Hamid Karzai called the printing of the images a mistake, and hoped that this would lead to the media being more responsible and respectful in the future.
[edit] Flag of Bahrain Bahrain
Bahrain's parliament has demanded an apology from Denmark's head of state, Queen Margrethe II, as well as from the government.[1]
MPs called for an extraordinary session of parliament to discuss the cartoons, while protestors set Danish dairy products ablaze. Al-Menbar Islamic Society MP Mohammed Khaled has demanded that Arab leaders take action: "We are stunned by the silence of the Arab leaders. They don't tolerate any criticism against them, yet allow others to insult the Prophet."[2]
[edit] Flag of Bangladesh Bangladesh
Foreign Minister Morshed Khan stated before parliament that a diplomatic protest was lodged with the government of Denmark on 2005-11-07. Further, he requested the Danish government issue an apology and urged them to prevent further occurrences of "such heinous acts."[3]
[edit] Flag of Belgium Belgium
In Belgium, the parliament accepted a resolution to defend the freedom of speech and to support Denmark.
[edit] Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina
On 2006-02-08, Muslims in Sarajevo organized a protest against the cartoons. They delivered a letter demanding an apology for the publication of the cartoons to staff at the Danish, Norweigian and French embassies. The flags of Norway, Denmark and Croatia were burnt.[4]
[edit] Flag of Canada Canada
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued a statement on February 14, 2006, that said Canadians have the right to free speech as well as the right to voice their opinions about the free speech of others. He said that he "regretted" that several Canadian newspapers had chosen to run the cartoons after the controversy began. "While we understand this issue is divisive, our government wishes that people be respectful of the beliefs of others." Harper also commended the Canadian Muslim community for voicing its opinion peacefully, respectfully and democratically.[5]
Foreign affairs minister Peter MacKay released a statement commenting that "This sensitive issue highlights the need for a better understanding of Islam and of Muslim communities... [to] promote a better understanding of Islam internationally, in partnership with Muslim communities."
[edit] Flag of the Czech Republic Czech Republic
After Iran sent a formal strong objection to the Czech government against the publication of the cartoons in MF DNES and Hospodářské noviny, the newspapers insisted that it was necessary for them to publish the pictures so that the readers get the full information. The Czech foreign minister Cyril Svoboda called the Muslim reaction "exaggerated" and advocated a united European stand on the issue. [2] President Václav Klaus argued that freedom of speech is only meaningful as a contract between a citizen and a particular government. The Czech government expressed solidarity with Denmark.
[edit] Flag of Egypt Egypt
In December 2005, Muhammad Sayyid Tantawy, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Mosque and Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar University, issued a statement saying that "Al-Azhar intends to protest these anti-Prophet cartoons with the UN's concerned committees and human rights groups around the world."[6]
A poll of 1,000 Egyptians in October, 2006, revealed that Denmark's image as an enemy to the Egyptian people remained in place. 60% of those polled viewed that Denmark was hostile to Egypt.[7]
[edit] Flag of Finland Finland
On February 1 Finnish Minister of Foreign Affairs Erkki Tuomioja commented on the issue, and said that Denmark should have acted earlier and paid more attention to Muslim outrage over the offensive caricatures. Further, he said that the Danish government could apologize for the fact that religious feelings were offended, without endangering freedom of expression. Tuomioja indicated the belief that EU countries should together condemn the threats of violence.
On February 14 police opened investigations into the publication of the cartoons on a Finnish web site. In Finland it is illegal to "disturb religious peace" (literal translation). This law is rarely prosecuted, giving this incident nation-wide attention. The cartoons have been published on numerous Finnish web sites but not in mainstream media. Police declined to comment which site or sites are being investigated, and said any media that publishes the cartoons will be similarly investigated. [3]
On February 24 in Northern Finland's culture magazine Kaltio gets publicity of publishing cartoon of masked prophet Muhammad (see it translated in English here ). After that some large financial institutions withdrew their advertisements from Kaltio and board of magazine fired their long time editor Mr. Jussi Vilkuna. The cartoon concerned Finnish political elites reaction in cartoon debate, not religion per se. Kaltio is small culture magazine and it has estimated to have 2000 readers. [4]
[edit] Flag of France France
The French foreign minister supported the right to free press, but added that it must be used "in a spirit of tolerance and with respect for beliefs and religions".[8]
Nicolas Sarkozy, then Interior Minister and presidential candidate, said on LCI television that he "preferred an excess of caricature to an excess of censorship" and pointed out that it is, if necessary, up to the courts to judge whether caricatures go beyond what is reasonable to publish, and not to the governments of Muslim countries.[9]
On 2006-02-06, French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin condemned the violence that had occurred internationally in response to the cartoons, but called for tolerance and respect toward other faiths.[10]
[edit] Flag of Germany Germany
Chancellor Angela Merkel said that while she understands that feelings were hurt by the caricatures, violent reactions were unacceptable. She stressed the central role of freedom of expression, and called for dialogue. "Denmark must not feel let alone in this issue". Merkel also said that she understands this to be the common position of the E.U.[11]
[edit] Flag of India India
Reactions have largely been muted by India's Muslim community, but on Friday, February 10 protestors burnt the Danish flag outside the Jama Masjid in Delhi after the imam criticized the Danish government.[citation needed]The Prime Ministers Office has expressed deep concern over the incident and the hurt caused to Muslims.[citation needed]
An elected MP from Uttar Pradesh , India's most populous state , Mr Haji Yaqoob Quereshi, Minister for Minority Welfare, announced a bounty of Rs 51 crore ( Nearly $ 22 Million ) + gold as much as the assassin weighed for anyone killing the Danish cartoonists.[citation needed] Cases have been registered in a court in Ghaziabad, a city in Uttar Pradesh, against him because of that bounty.[citation needed]
Two little known Shariat courts have joined the Uttar Pradesh minister in prescribing death for the Danish cartoonist who sketched Prophet Mohammed but have found little endorsement from prominent Muslim groups.[citation needed]
While one fatwa was issued by the Irada-e-Sharia Darul Qaza Monday, another was issued by the equally unknown Ifta Firangimahli Taksal Tuesday.[citation needed]
Both have been signed by Maulana Naimul Haleem Qadri, a member of both institutions. However, he has found little support in this state where 18 percent of the 170 million people are Muslims.[citation needed]
See also
1. Questions on Quereshis rights
2. Islam in India
[edit] Flag of Indonesia Indonesia
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono says the Indonesian government condemned the publication of caricature of the Prophet Muhammad. "The publication of the caricature of course reflects a lack of sensitivity to the views and belief of other religious adherents," he said. However, as "religious people", he recommends to "accept the apology".[12]
[edit] Flag of Iran Iran
On February 2, Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ordered contracts to be cancelled with all countries where media have published the cartoons. On February 5, Iran recalled their ambassador from Denmark, and banned Danish journalists from reporting from Iran. Iran's supreme religious leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on February 6th, 2006, that a "Zionist conspiracy" was to blame for the row over the Prophet Muhammad cartoons, in his first reaction to the controversy: "The reason for the Zionist action is because of the loss they suffered by Hamas winning". Khamenai was referring to Hamas victory in the Palestinian legislative election. In fact, the Palestinian election took place almost four months after the cartoons were first posted.
Former Iranian president, Mohammad Khatami who is also the theorist of Dialogue Among Civilizations, strongly criticized the Danish cartoons for "spreading hatred", but added that the Muslim world is not entirely blameless either:
"Offending and insulting, is different from expressing an opinion that can be analyzed, argued on, and can eventually be accepted or rejected [therefore offending others is not acceptable] ... But in addition to the west, we ourselves also have problems in this regard. Instead of logical criticism or debate, we only keep saying offensive things about liberalism, democracy and modernism. I had told some of our elders before, that the religion of the today's world is 'liberalism' and we have no right to make insults about it. We should not keep using phrases such as "the corrupt culture of the west" etc. in our words. As it's also said in the Holy Koran, "Do not insult the gods of others, otherwise you are indirectly insulting your God". " February 15th, 2006. [5] [6]
There was a recommendation for The term for a "Danish" pastry to be changed to "Gole Mohammadi"(in Persian: Mohammadi Flower).[13]
The Iranian government retaliated by organizing a holocaust cartoon competition. Jyllands-Posten was challenged to print the winning cartoons of the competition. It agreed at first but after the competition results were announced, Jyllands-Posten backed down and did not explain why it decided not to print the winning cartoons of the holocaust cartoon competition. The Iranian government maintained that Jyllands-Posten was never interested in freedom of speech but was just spreading hate ideology.
Some Iranian organizations and media have also backed the publications of cartoons with actions such as organizing demonstrations abroad, republishing caricatures, publishing articles defending them, showing them through Satellite Channels or talk about them in radio.
The following Iranian Organizations are among those who backed the "Freedom of Speech" and publication of Caricatures: Atheists Society, Communist Youth Organization, Communist Youth Organization-Hekmatist, Organization of Iranian Blogwriters, Organization of Women Emancipation, Organization of Women Liberation, Worker-Communist Party of Iran, Worker-Communist Party of Iran-Hekmatist and Organization of Unity of Iranian People Fedayis.
Iran amended §224-1 of its penal code (prohibition of apostasy, magic and religious innovation, punishable by death, no evidence or witness testimony required - only "the judge's views and impressions") to also cover Defamation of the Prophet [Muhammed].[14]
[edit] Flag of Iraq Iraq
Shia cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani condemned the cartoons but also commented about militants who discredit Islam by their acts. Sistani underlined how un-Islamic acts of extremism are used as justification to attack Islam.[15]
[edit] Flag of Ireland Ireland
Irish president Mary McAleese condemned the cartoons as designed to provoke, designed to be rude and designed to inflame. She also condemned the violent protests against the cartoons.[16]
[edit] Flag of Italy Italy
On February 14, Italy's Reform Minister Roberto Calderoli had T-shirts made emblazoned with cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad in a move likely to embarrass Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's government. Calderoli, a member of the anti-immigrant Northern League party, told Ansa news agency on Tuesday that the West had to stand up against Islamic extremists and offered to hand out T-shirts to anyone who wanted them. [7]
[edit] Flag of Lebanon Lebanon
Protestors torch the Danish Consulate in Lebanon.
Protestors torch the Danish Consulate in Lebanon.
The Lebanese minister of foreign affairs criticized the drawings saying that Freedom of speech ends when sacred values are offended.[17]
[edit] Flag of Libya Libya
Libya recalled its ambassador and announced that it would close its embassy in Denmark.[18]
[edit] Flag of Malaysia Malaysia
Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, current chairman of Organisation of the Islamic Conference says "This is a deliberate act of provocation. They should cease and desist from doing so."[19]
[edit] Flag of the Netherlands Netherlands
The Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Jan-Peter Balkenende, issued the following statement (translated): "I regret the threats from the Muslim world. In our world, when someone crosses a line, we take the matter to court. There is no place here for threats and own direction. (I am) Glad there is freedom of speech here. At the same time we have to realize that our images and ideas can be provocative to others."
[edit] Flag of New Zealand New Zealand
The cartoons were published by two daily newspapers, the Dominion Post and Christchurch Press, both owned by Fairfax of Australia. Fleeting glimpses were also shown on two television networks reporting on the issue. The publication ignited a national debate and a peaceful street protest by New Zealand Muslims in Auckland. The publication of the cartoons was condemned by Prime Minister Helen Clark and opposition leader Don Brash, although they both stated that such decisions were up to newspaper editors to make. New Zealand has good trading relations with many Islamic countries and there were concerns that the controversy would threaten this. Shortly thereafter the newspapers agreed not to republish the cartoons, and New Zealand Muslim groups, while condemning the cartoons, have asked Muslim countries not to boycott New Zealand goods.
[edit] Flag of Nigeria Nigeria
On February 7, the parliament of the State of Kano in the Muslim north of the country cancelled a €23 million order for Danish buses and banned the sale of all Danish and Norwegian products. Legislators then burned the flags of both nations before a crowd decrying the blasphemy of the caricatures of Muhammad.[20]
[edit] Flag of Norway Norway
The cartoons were first published in Aftenposten and Dagbladet, but when they were published in the Christian publication Magazinet, and later again in many major Norwegian newspapers, violent reactions and hostile attitude against Norway started. Freedom of Speech was heavily debated, and there has been great concern about the violent reactions and hostile attitude against Norway.
[edit] Flag of Pakistan Pakistan
Upper House of parliament adopts a unanimous resolution condemning the Danish newspaper for publishing blasphemous and derogatory cartoons.[21] Pakistan's ambassador urged the Danish prime minister to penalize the cartoonists. From February 14-15 protests have occurred, the largest of which took place in Peshawar where protestors number over 70,000 [8]. Other cities have also experienced great unrest such as Lahore where foreign owned businesses such as Pizza Hut, KFC, and McDonalds have been burned; Islamabad where the embassies of Britain, France, and India were targeted; and Tank, a town 142 miles from Peshawar, where protestors burned down shops selling CDs and DVDs.
On February 17, 2006, Ynetnews.com ran an AP article that claims that an Islamic cleric is offering a monetary reward and a new car for killing cartoonists (implied).
"Mohammed Yousaf Qureshi, prayer leader at the historic Mohabat Khan mosque in the northwestern city of Peshawar, announced the mosque and the Jamia Ashrafia religious school he leads would give a 1.5 million rupee reward and a car for killing the cartoonist of the prophet pictures that appeared first in a Danish newspaper in September.
"Whoever has done this despicable and shameful act, he has challenged the honor of Muslims. Whoever will kill this cursed man, he will get one million dollars from the association of the jewelers' bazaar, one million rupees from Masjid Mohabat Khan and 500,000 rupees and a car from Jamia Ashrafia as a reward," Qureshi said.
"This is a unanimous decision by all imams (prayer leaders) of Islam that whoever insults the prophet deserves to be killed and whoever will take this insulting man to his end, will get this prize," Qureshi said.
link here: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3217591,00.html
and the list goes on and on.
Finally, yesterday this announcement:
"Muslims to appeal cartoon case," from News 24, July 31:
Copenhagen - Seven Danish Muslim associations were planning to appeal to Denmark's highest court over the publication of 12 cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad that sparked violent protests in 2006, reports said on Thursday.
A spokesperson for the Islamic Society told Danish media that a lawyer was working on the appeal to the Supreme Court.
Earlier, a Danish district court and an appeal court had turned down cases filed against the former managing editor and cultural editor of the Jyllands-Posten newspaper, which published the cartoons in September 2005.
The Muslim associations maintain that Muslims were slandered when the prophet was depicted as a terrorist and war-monger, but both Danish courts ruled that the publication was not slander.
Islamic Society spokesperson Bilal Assaad said the groups were prepared to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights, should the Supreme Court not support their case, news agency Ritzau said.
In February, Danish security police said they averted a plot to murder newspaper cartoonist Kurt Westergaard, who made one of the 12 cartoons, depicting the Prophet Muhammad with a bomb in his turban.
Leading Danish newspapers reprinted the cartoons after the plot against Westergaard was disclosed, sparking new protests.
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