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Revision as of 12:07, 15 February 2006 editRnt20 (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers6,005 edits Danish Imams tour the Middle East: Added further information from BBC about pig-squealing contest image← Previous edit Revision as of 12:08, 15 February 2006 edit undoRnt20 (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers6,005 edits Added article nameNext edit →
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It consists of several letters from Muslim organisations explaining their case, multiple clippings from Jyllands-Posten, multiple clippings from Weekend Avisen, some clippings from Arabic-language papers, and three additional images. ] It consists of several letters from Muslim organisations explaining their case, multiple clippings from Jyllands-Posten, multiple clippings from Weekend Avisen, some clippings from Arabic-language papers, and three additional images. ]


Apparently, the group of imams misrepresented the origin of the latter three images<ref></ref><ref>{{da icon}} and {{citenews|date=]|title=Scandinavian Update: Israeli Boycott, Muslim Cartoons|url=http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/668|org=The Brussels Journal}}</ref>. On ] ] incorrectly reported that one of them had been published in ''Jyllands-Posten''. <ref>{{da icon}}{{citenews|title=Imam viste falske billeder|org=Jyllands-Posten|date=]|url=http://www.jp.dk/indland/artikel:aid=3527718}}</ref> This image was later found to be a wire-service photo of a contestant at a French pig-squealing contest <ref></ref> (the original wire service article can be seen here <ref></ref>), although the dossier's version also included the caption ''Here is the true face of Muhammad'' (in Danish, with an Arabic translation). According to the BBC, this image was misleadingly circulated by Danish Muslims to illustrate the atmosphere of Islamophobia which they lived under<ref></ref>. The other two additional images portrayed a muslim being mounted by a dog while praying and Muhammad as a demonic pedophile (referencing the ]). Note that both the pig and the dog are considered impure animals in Islam. Apparently, the group of imams misrepresented the origin of the latter three images<ref></ref><ref>{{da icon}} and {{citenews|date=]|title=Scandinavian Update: Israeli Boycott, Muslim Cartoons|url=http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/668|org=The Brussels Journal}}</ref>. On ] ] incorrectly reported that one of them had been published in ''Jyllands-Posten''. <ref>{{da icon}}{{citenews|title=Imam viste falske billeder|org=Jyllands-Posten|date=]|url=http://www.jp.dk/indland/artikel:aid=3527718}}</ref> This image was later found to be a wire-service photo of a contestant at a French pig-squealing contest <ref></ref> (the original wire service article can be seen here <ref></ref>), although the dossier's version also included the caption ''Here is the true face of Muhammad'' (in Danish, with an Arabic translation). According to the BBC, this image was misleadingly circulated by Danish Muslims to illustrate the atmosphere of Islamophobia which they lived under<ref></ref>. The other two additional images portrayed a muslim being mounted by a dog while praying and Muhammad as a demonic pedophile (referencing the ]). Note that both the pig and the dog are considered impure animals in Islam.


The group set out for a tour of the Middle East to present their case to many influential religious and political leaders, and to ask for support:<ref></ref> The group set out for a tour of the Middle East to present their case to many influential religious and political leaders, and to ask for support:<ref></ref>

Revision as of 12:08, 15 February 2006

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File:Jyllands-Posten Muhammad drawings.jpg
The Face of Muhammed - The controversial cartoons of Muhammad, first published in Jyllands-Posten in September 2005. Larger versions of the image are available off-site.

The Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy began after twelve editorial cartoons, most of which depicted the Islamic prophet Muhammad, were published in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten on September 30 2005. Danish Muslim organizations staged protests in response. As the controversy has grown, some or all of the cartoons have been reprinted in newspapers in 40 other countries. This has led to unrest around the world, particularly in Islamic countries where the cartoons are seen as culturally insensitive, insulting, or blasphemous.

Overview

Jyllands-Posten
Muhammad cartoons
controversy
Events and reactionsTimeline
Cartoon descriptions
Akkari-Laban dossier
Newspaper reprints
International reactions
Opinions
Principal partiesJyllands-Posten
Islamisk Trossamfund
Denmark (Muslim community)
Muslim world
Related Danish bombing
2010 Norway terror plot
2010 Copenhagen terror plot
Charlie Hebdo shooting
Lars Vilks controversy
2015 Copenhagen attacks
Freedom of speech

The drawings, including a depiction of Muhammad with a bomb inside or under his turban, were accompanied by an article on self-censorship and freedom of speech. Flemming Rose, the cultural editor of the conservative daily newspaper Jyllands-Posten, commissioned twelve cartoonists for the project and published the cartoons to highlight the difficulty experienced by Danish writer Kåre Bluitgen in finding artists to illustrate his children's book about Muhammad. Artists previously approached by Bluitgen were reportedly unwilling to work with him for fear of violent attacks by extremist Muslims.

Several death threats have been made against those responsible for the cartoons, reportedly resulting in the cartoonists going into hiding. The foreign ministries of eleven Islamic countries demanded action from the Danish government, and several Arab countries eventually closed their embassies in Denmark in protest after the government initially refused to intervene or apologize. The Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen said, "The government refuses to apologize because the government does not control the media or a newspaper outlet; that would be in violation of the freedom of speech".

A group of Danish Imams lobbied decision-makers in the Middle East. A large consumer boycott was organised in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and other Middle East countries. Rumours spread via SMS and word-of-mouth. The foreign ministers of seventeen Islamic countries renewed calls for the Danish government to punish those responsible for the cartoons, and to ensure that such cartoons are not published again. The Organization of the Islamic Conference and the Arab League have demanded that the United Nations impose international sanctions upon Denmark and that the EU introduce blasphemy laws. Numerous protests against the cartoons have taken place, some of them violent. On February 4 2006, the buildings containing the Danish and Norwegian embassies in Syria were set ablaze, although no one was hurt. In Beirut the Danish General Consulate was set on fire, resulting in the death of one protester inside the complex. Deaths have also been reported in riots in Afghanistan. As of February 13 2006, at least 13 people have been killed in the protests.

Timeline

Template:Wikinewshas

Main article: Timeline of the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy

Debate about self-censorship

On September 17 2005, the Danish newspaper Politiken ran an article under the headline "Dyb angst for kritik af islam" ("Profound fear of criticism of Islam"). The article discussed the difficulty encountered by the writer Kåre Bluitgen, who was initially unable to find an illustrator who was prepared to work with Bluitgen on his children's book Koranen og profeten Muhammeds liv ("The Qur'an and the prophet Muhammad's life"). Three artists declined Bluitgen's proposal before an artist agreed to assist anonymously. According to Bluitgen:

One , with reference to the murder in Amsterdam of the film director Theo van Gogh, while another the lecturer at the Carsten Niebuhr Institute in Copenhagen.

In October 2004, a lecturer at the Niebuhr institute at the University of Copenhagen was assaulted by five assailants who opposed the lecturer's reading of the Qur'an to non-Muslims during a lecture.

The refusal of the first three artists to participate was seen as evidence of self-censorship and led to much debate in Denmark, with other examples for similar reasons soon emerging. The comedian Frank Hvam declared that he did not dare satirise the Qur'an on television, while the translators of an essay collection critical of Islam also wished to remain anonymous due to concerns about violent reaction.

Publication of the drawings

On September 30 2005, the daily newspaper Jyllands-Posten ("The Jutland Post") published an article titled "Muhammeds ansigt" ("The face of Muhammad"). The article consisted of 12 cartoons (of which only some depicted Muhammad) and an explanatory text, in which Flemming Rose, Jyllands-Posten's culture editor, commented:

The modern, secular society is rejected by some Muslims. They demand a special position, insisting on special consideration of their own religious feelings. It is incompatible with contemporary democracy and freedom of speech, where you must be ready to put up with insults, mockery and ridicule. It is certainly not always attractive and nice to look at, and it does not mean that religious feelings should be made fun of at any price, but that is of minor importance in the present context. we are on our way to a slippery slope where no-one can tell how the self-censorship will end. That is why Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten has invited members of the Danish editorial cartoonists union to draw Muhammad as they see him.

After an invitation from Jyllands-Posten to around forty different artists to give their interpretation on how Muhammad may have looked, twelve caricaturists chose to respond with a drawing each. Some of these twelve drawings portray Muhammad in different fashions; many also comment on the surrounding self-censorship debate. Four of these twelve cartoons were illustrated by Jyllands-Posten's own staff, including the "bomb" and "niqaab" cartoons. In the clockwise direction of their position in the page layout:

  • The Islamic star and crescent merged with the face of Muhammad; his right eye is the star, the crescent surrounds his beard and face.
  • Muhammad with a bomb in his turban, with a lit fuse and the Islamic creed written on the bomb. This drawing is considered the most controversial of the twelve.
  • Muhammad standing in a gentle pose with a halo in the shape of a crescent moon. The middle part of the crescent is obscured, revealing only the edges which resemble horns.
  • A schematic stick drawing of five almost identical figures. Each of them resembles a headscarf seen from the side and has a Star of David and a crescent where the face should be. A poem on oppression of women is attached to the cartoon: "Profet! Med kuk og knald i låget som holder kvinder under åget!", which could be translated as: "Prophet, you crazy bloke! Keeping women under yoke!"
  • Muhammad as a simple wanderer, in the desert, at sunset. There is a donkey in the background.
  • A nervous caricaturist, shakily drawing Muhammad while looking over his shoulder.
  • Two angry Muslims charge forward with sabres and bombs, while their leader addresses them with: "Rolig, venner, når alt kommer til alt er det jo bare en tegning lavet af en vantro sønderjyde", referring to a drawing in his hand. In English, his words are: "Relax, friends, at the end of the day, it's just a drawing by an infidel South Jutlander".
  • A 7th grade Arab-looking boy in front of a blackboard, pointing to the Farsi chalkings, which translate into "The editorial team of Jyllands-Posten is a bunch of reactionary provocateurs". The boy is labelled "Mohammed, Valby school, 7.A", implying that this is a second-generation immigrant to Denmark rather than the founder of Islam. On his shirt is written "FREM" and then in a new line "-TIDEN". Fremtiden means the future, but Frem (forward) is also the name of a Valby football team whose uniforms resemble the boy's shirt. Valby is a district of Copenhagen known for having a concentrated population of immigrants.
  • Another drawing shows Muhammad prepared for battle, with a short sabre in one hand and a black bar censoring his eyes. He seems to be smiling. He is flanked by two women in niqaabs, having only their wide open eyes visible.
  • Muhammad standing on a cloud, greeting dead suicide bombers with "Stop Stop vi er løbet tør for Jomfruer!" Translated in English: "Stop, stop, we have run out of virgins!", an allusion to the promised reward to martyrs.
  • Another shows journalist Kåre Bluitgen, wearing a turban with the proverbial orange dropping into it, with the inscription "Publicity stunt". In his hand is a child's stick drawing of Muhammad. The proverb "an orange in the turban" is a Danish expression meaning "a stroke of luck": here, the added publicity for the book.

And in the centre:

  • A police line-up of seven people wearing turbans, with the witness saying: "Hm... jeg kan ikke lige genkende ham" ("Hm... I can't really recognise him"). Not all people in the line-up are immediately identifiable. They are: (1) A generic Hippie, (2) politician Pia Kjærsgaard, (3) possibly Jesus, (4) possibly Buddha, (5) possibly Muhammad, (6) generic Indian Guru, and (7) journalist Kåre Bluitgen, carrying a sign saying: "Kåres PR, ring og få et tilbud" ("Kåre's public relations, call and get an offer").

Jyllands-Posten response

In response to protests from Danish Muslim groups Jyllands-Posten published two open letters on its website, both in Danish and Arabic versions, and the second letter also in an English version. The second letter was dated 30 January 2006, and includes the following explanation and apology:

In our opinion, the 12 drawings were sober. They were not intended to be offensive, nor were they at variance with Danish law, but they have indisputably offended many Muslims for which we apologize.

Meeting with Arab Ambassadors refused by Danish Prime Minister

Having received petitions from Danish imams, eleven Arab ambassadors asked for a meeting with Danish prime minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen in 12 October 2005, in order to discuss what they perceive as an on-going smearing campaign in Danish public circles and media against Islam and Muslims.. The government declined because it apparently interpreted the letter as asking Rasmussen to take legal steps against the newspaper, and the government did not see this as an acceptable basis for a meeting. However, Foreign Minister Per Stig Møller received them. The refusal of meeting the ambassadors has been a major point of criticism towards the government from the opposition.

Police investigation of Jyllands-Posten

27 October 2005, a number of Muslim organizations submitted complaints to the Danish police claiming that Jyllands-Posten had committed an offence under section 140 and 266b of the Danish Criminal Code.

Section 140 of the Criminal Code prohibits any person from publicly ridiculing or insulting the dogmas of worship of any lawfully existing religious community in Denmark. Section 266b criminalises the dissemination of statements or other information by which a group of people are threatened, insulted or degraded on account of their religion. Danish police began their investigation of these complaints on 27 October 2005.

On 6 January 2006, the Regional Public Prosecutor in Viborg discontinued the investigation as he found no basis for concluding that the cartoons constituted a criminal offence. He stated that, in assessing what constitutes an offence, the right to freedom of speech must be taken into consideration. That while the right to freedom of speech must be exercised with the necessary respect for other human rights, including the right to protection against discrimination, insult and degradation, no apparent violation of the law had occurred.

Danish Imams tour the Middle East

Main articles: Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy 43p dossier and Dossier of Danish imams touring the Middle East

Unsatisfied with the reaction of the Danish Government and Jyllands-Posten and feeling provoked additionally in particular by

  • pictures from Weekend Avisen which they called "even more offending" (than the original 12 cartoons),
  • hate-mail pictures and letters that, according to the dossier's authors, have been sent to Muslims in Denmark, and were indicative of the rejection of Muslims by the Danish,
  • a televised interview with Dutch member of parliament and Islam critic Hirsi Ali, who had just received the Freedom Prize “for her work to further freedom of speech and the rights of women” from the Danish Liberal Party represented by Anders Fogh Rasmussen

A group of Danish imams from several organisations created a 43-page dossier. This appears to have been assembled and added to until some point after 8 December 2005, with the first lobbying visits to Egypt having taken place before finalization.

It consists of several letters from Muslim organisations explaining their case, multiple clippings from Jyllands-Posten, multiple clippings from Weekend Avisen, some clippings from Arabic-language papers, and three additional images.

Pig-face - This picture of a French pig-squealing contestant, taken from the imams' dossier, was identified as an old Associated Press picture from a French "pig-squealing" contest.

Apparently, the group of imams misrepresented the origin of the latter three images. On February 1 BBC World incorrectly reported that one of them had been published in Jyllands-Posten. This image was later found to be a wire-service photo of a contestant at a French pig-squealing contest (the original wire service article can be seen here ), although the dossier's version also included the caption Here is the true face of Muhammad (in Danish, with an Arabic translation). According to the BBC, this image was misleadingly circulated by Danish Muslims to illustrate the atmosphere of Islamophobia which they lived under. The other two additional images portrayed a muslim being mounted by a dog while praying and Muhammad as a demonic pedophile (referencing the Aisha controversy). Note that both the pig and the dog are considered impure animals in Islam.

The group set out for a tour of the Middle East to present their case to many influential religious and political leaders, and to ask for support: The dossier oscillates wildly between diplomatic statements such as:

  • We urge you to - on the behalf of thousands of believing Muslims - to give us the opportunity of having a constructive contact with the press and particularly with the relevant decision makers, not briefly, but with a scientific methodology and a planned and long-term programme seeking to make views approach each other and remove misunderstandings between the two parties involved. Since we do not wish for Muslims to be accused of being backward and narrow, likewise we do not wish for Danes to be accused of ideological arrogance either. When this relationship is back on its track, the result will bring satisfaction, an underpinning of security and the stable relations, and a flourishing Denmark for all that live here
  • We call your attention to this case, and place it in your hands, in such a way that we together may think and have an objective dialogue regarding how an appropriate exit can be found for these crises in a way which does not violate the freedom of speech, but which at the same time does not offend the feelings of Muslims either.

and misinformation:

  • The faithful in their religion (muslims) suffer under a number of circumstances, first and foremost the lack of official recognition of the Islamic faith. This has led to a lot of problems, especially the lack of right to build mosques
  • Even though they belong to the Christian faith, the secularizations have overcome them, and if you say that they are all infidels, then you are not wrong.
  • This happened in connection with the promotion of a book, which has recently been published, and which contains these inappropriate cartoons

It is notable that the letters in the dossier that long predate the tour to the Middle East are solidly within the diplomatic and concillatory range and are free of misinformation, while that later letters use a more urgent language.

Not exactly misinformation, but possibly a misunderstanding was the inclusion in the dossier of the aforementioned cartoons from Weekend Avisen. These cartoons were more likely to be parodies on the pompousness of Jylland-Posten's cartoons than cartoons of the Prophet in their own right, these consist of reproductions of works such as the Mona Lisa (caption: For centuries, a previously unknown society has known that this is a painting of the Prophet, and guarded this secret. The back page's anonymous artist is doing everything he can to reveal this secret in his contribution. He has since then been forced to go underground, fearing for the wrath of a crazy albino imam, a very obvious pun on the Da Vinci Code), or Composition VIII by Russian abstract artist Kandinsky (caption: Bellowing Prophet by a Forest Lake, a pun on "Bellowing Deer by a Forest Lake", an image associated with very poor taste.)

At a 6 December 2005 summit of the OIC, with many heads of state in attendance, the dossier was handed around on the sidelines first, and eventually an official communique was issued. Later, the Egyptian ambassador was criticised by the Danish foreign ministry for for adding to the unrest by alleging that Islam was not an offically recognized religion in Denmark.

Reprinting in other newspapers

El Fagr's Headline Page for 17 October 2005 - One of the controversial cartoons of Muhammad, as it appeared on the first page of the Egyptian Newspaper El Fagr.
Further information: List of newspapers that reprinted Jyllands-Posten's Muhammad cartoons
Some of the countries where the images were published in any form

In 2005, the Muhammad cartoons controversy received only minor media attention outside of Denmark. Six of the cartoons were reprinted by the Egyptian newspaper El Fagr on 17 October 2005 along with an article strongly denouncing them, but publication did not provoke any reactions nor condemnations from either religious or government authorities. Some or all of the cartoons were reprinted between October 2005 and the end of January 2006 in major European newspapers from the Netherlands, Germany, Scandinavia, Belgium and France, without much protest. Very soon after, as protests grew, there were further re-publications around the globe, but mostly in continental Europe.

Notable by their absence were re-publications from major newspapers in the USA and the United Kingdom, where editorials covered the story, but almost unanimously took a stance against re-publication of the Muhammad cartoons.

Several editors were fired for their decision, or even their intention,to re-publish the cartoons (most prominently the managing director of France Soir, Jacques Lefranc), some were stopped by publishers or courts.

Three of the cartoons were reprinted in the Jordanian weekly newspaper al-Shihan. The editor, Jihad Momani, was fired, and the publisher withdrew the newspaper from circulation. Jihad Momani issued a public apology, was arrested and charged with insulting religion. Several of the cartoons were reprinted in the Jordanian newspaper al-Mehwar. The editor Hisham Khalidi was also arrested and charged with insulting religion. Both charges were dropped two days later.

Al-Hurreya newspaper in Yemen was closed down after publishing some images. Owner/Editor Abdul-Karim Sabra was arrested.

In Malaysia, Lester Melanyi, an editor of the Sarawak Tribune resigned from his post for allowing the reprinting of a cartoon. The chief editor was summoned to the Internal Security Ministry. The Malaysian government has also shut down the newspaper indefinitely.

Yemen detained three journalists on Sunday, February 12 and is seeking a fourth after closing three publications that printed the cartoons. Al-Hurriya, Yemen Observer and al-Rai al-Aam were shut and their case sent to prosecutors. The officials said those detained are Mohammad al-Asaadi, the editor-in-chief of the English-language Yemen Observer, Akram Sabra, the managing editor of al-Hurriya weekly newspaper and reporter Yehiya al-Abed of Hurriya. The prosecution has issued a warrant for Kamal al-Aalafi, the editor-in-chief of al-Rai al-Aam. The Yemeni journalists' association called for the release of the journalists and for the annulment of the closure decrees "because these measures were not ordered by a court".

On Sunday February 12, Algeria closed two newspapers and arrested their editors for printing the images of the cartoons of the Prophet. Kahel Bousaad and Berkane Bouderbala, respectively editors of the pro-Islamist weeklies, Errisala and Iqraa, were detained last week and will appear before an investigating judge in Algiers on Monday, staff of the two Arabic newspapers said.

International reactions

File:Dm product.jpg
"To our dear customers: As a result of mockery towards The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him), Al Tamimi Markets announces its boycott of all kinds of Danish Products"
Main article: International reactions to the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy

What started with the problem of a Danish author trying to find an illustrator for his forthcoming book about Islam has become an international crisis. It has led to death, violence, arrests, international tensions, and a renewed debate about the scope of free speech and the place of Muslims in the West, and the West in Muslim countries. Many governments, organizations and individuals worldwide have issued statements, trying to define their stance.

Conflicting traditions

Danish journalistic tradition

Freedom of speech in Denmark was obtained in a new constitution with democracy in 1849 and parliamentarism in 1901 together with other liberties, including freedom of religion. These freedoms have been defended vigorously ever since. Freedom of speech was abandoned temporarily only during the German occupation of Denmark during World War II.

Section 77 of the Constitutional Act of Denmark (1953) reads: “Any person shall be at liberty to publish his ideas in print, in writing, and in speech, subject to his being held responsible in a court of law. Censorship and other preventive measures shall never again be introduced.”

Under international law, freedom of expression in Denmark is also protected by among others the European Convention on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Section 140 of the Danish Penal Code prohibits blasphemy. However, this law has not been enforced since 1938. Section 266b of the Danish Penal Code prohibits expressions that threaten, deride or degrade on the grounds of race, colour, national or ethnic origin, belief or sexual orientation. The Danish public prosecutor determined that the Muhammad cartoons did not violate either law.

Jesus and other religious figures are often portrayed in Denmark in ways that many other societies would consider illegal blasphemy. In 1984 the artist Jens Jørgen Thorsen was commissioned by a local art club to paint the wall of a railway station. The work displayed a naked Jesus with an erect penis. In 1992 Thorsen directed the film Jesus vender tilbage which showed Jesus as sexually active and involved with a terrorist group. While Thorsen’s work provoked much public debate and his painting was removed from the public building, he was not charged with any legal offence. In 2003, Jyllands-Posten rejected unsolicited cartoons about Jesus, opening them to accusations of a double standard.

Danish newspapers are privately owned and independent from the government. There are no restrictions on the political viewpoints that may be published. There are frequent caricatures of priests and politicians as well as of Queen Margrethe II.

Although the Danish press is free to satirise, a 2004 report by the European Network Against Racism concluded that a disproportionate amount of editorial space is devoted to negative reporting on ethnic minorities.

Islamic tradition

Main article: Aniconism

The Qur'an, Islam's holiest book, condemns idolatry, but has no direct condemnations of pictorial art. Direct prohibitions of pictorial art, or any depiction of sacred figures, are found in some hadith, or recorded oral traditions.

Views regarding pictorial representation within several religious communities have varied from group to group, and from time to time. Among Muslims, the Shi'a Muslims have been generally tolerant of pictorial representation of human figures, Sunni Muslims less so. However, the Sunni Ottomans, the last dynasty to claim the caliphate, were not only tolerant but even patrons of the miniaturists' art. Many Ottoman miniatures depict Muhammad; they usually show Muhammad's face covered with a veil or as a featureless void emanating light (depicted as flames). Pictorial surveys of Muhammad can be found on the internet. Note that the last site also contains some modern depictions, offensive to some, of Muhammad.

Most contemporary Muslims believe that ordinary portraits and photos, films and illustrations, are permissible. Only some Salafi and Islamist interpretations of Sunni Islam still condemn pictorial representations of any kind. Offensive satirical pictures are a somewhat different case — disrespect to Islam or to Muhammad is still widely considered blasphemous or sacrilegious.

According to the BBC "It is the satirical intent of the cartoonists, and the association of the Prophet with terrorism, that is so offensive to the vast majority of Muslims."

A fatwa exists given by Ali al-Sistani, the Shi'a marja of Iraq, stating that it is permissible to make pictures of Muhammad, if done with the highest respect.

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights ( Full text of the Covenant) is a United Nations treaty based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which entered into force on 23 March 1976. Articles 19 and 20 of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights reads:

  • Article 19
  1. Everyone shall have the right to hold opinions without interference.
  2. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice.
  3. The exercise of the rights provided for in paragraph 2 of this article carries with it special duties and responsibilities. It may therefore be subject to certain restrictions, but these shall only be such as are provided by law and are necessary:
(a) For respect of the rights or reputations of others;
(b) For the protection of national security or of public order (ordre public), or of public health or morals.
  • Article 20
  1. Any propaganda for war shall be prohibited by law.
  2. Any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence shall be prohibited by law.

Denmark signed the Covenant on 20 March 1968, Iran on 4 April 1968 and The United States on 5 October 1977.

Opinions

Main article: Opinions on the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy

Comparable references

Main article: Freedom of speech versus blasphemy

Throughout history, believers from a multitude of faiths have called for boycott, arrest, censorship or even execution of critics, artists and commentators whose works they considered blasphemous or racist. Some have been punished for committing a criminal offence such as hate speech. In some cases publications have been censored. In other cases offending artists have been aquitted or escaped the wrath of those who were offended. As well, public pressure has led to changes, such as pressure that resulted in changing the mascots of sports teams in schools across the United States. In the current case voices have been heard that the cartoonists from Jyllands-Posten should be punished under Muslim law similar to the way Julius Streicher was excuted for crimes against humanity by the Allies after World War II.

The following references of alleged blasphemy or hate speech have been mentioned in connection with the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy:

See also

External links

Official correspondence

Islamic views

News articles

Images

Academic analysis

Reconciliation

References

  1. "Cartoons that dare not show their face: Europeans must stand up against intolerance". 2006-02-07. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |org= ignored (help)
  2. "E-Mail, Blogs, Text Messages Propel Anger Over Images". 2006-02-09. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |org= ignored (help)
  3. ^ "Muslims seek UN resolution over Danish prophet cartoons". 2006-01-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |org= ignored (help)
  4. "OIC chief presses EU to pass blasphemy laws". 2006-02-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |org= ignored (help)
  5. "Protesters burn consulate over cartoons". 2006-02-05. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |org= ignored (help)
  6. "Protestors killed as global furor over cartoons escalates". 2006-02-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |org= ignored (help)
  7. "Muslim cartoon fury claims lives". 2006-02-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |org= ignored (help)
  8. "Cartoon anger unabated". 2006-02-10. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |org= ignored (help)
  9. ^ Template:Da icon"Dyb angst for kritik af islam". 2005-09-17. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |org= ignored (help)
  10. Template:Da icon"Overfaldet efter Koran-læsning". 2004-10-09. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |org= ignored (help)
  11. Template:Da iconRose, Flemming (2005-09-30). "Muhammeds ansigt". {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |org= ignored (help)
  12. Template:Da icon"Jyllands-Posten: Ytringsfrihed: Mohammes ansigt". 2005-10-30. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |org= ignored (help)
  13. Template:Ar iconJyllands-Posten's letter in Arabic
  14. Jyllands-Posten's letter in English
  15. Template:Da iconFogh tager personligt afstand
  16. Template:En iconA Scene in the Wrong Movie
  17. ^ "Official Response by the Danish Government to the UN Special Rapporteurs" (PDF). 2006-01-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |org= ignored (help)
  18. "The imam and the unbelievers of Denmark". 2006-01-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |org= ignored (help)
  19. A clash of rights and responsibilities, BBC
  20. Template:Da iconViste pædofil Muhamed and "Scandinavian Update: Israeli Boycott, Muslim Cartoons". 2006-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |org= ignored (help)
  21. Template:Da icon"Imam viste falske billeder". 2006-01-30. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |org= ignored (help)
  22. Neandernews: Danish Imams Busted!A clash of rights and responsibilities, BBC
  23. What the Muhammad cartoons portray
  24. Alienated Danish Muslims Sought Help from Arabs
  25. Template:Da iconTrossamfund angriber Muhammed-satire i Weekendavisen
  26. "How a meeting of leaders in Mecca set off the cartoon wars around the world". 2006-02-10. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |org= ignored (help)
  27. Template:Da icon[http://politiken.dk/VisArtikel.iasp?PageID=438583 Trossamfund angriber Muhammed-satire i Egyptisk ambassadør fik verbal afklapsning
  28. "Danes Blame Imams for Satire Escalation, Survey Says (Update1)". 2005-02-10. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |org= ignored (help)
  29. "First Newsbreaker". 2005-02-09. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |org= ignored (help)
  30. "No Danish Treatment for an Egyptian Newspaper". 2006-02-08. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |org= ignored (help)
  31. "A media dilemma: The rest of a story". 2006-02-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |org= ignored (help)
  32. "US, British media tread carefully in cartoon furor". 2006-02-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |org= ignored (help)
  33. "Paper withdrawn over cartoon row". 2006-02-07. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |org= ignored (help)
  34. "NY Press Kills Cartoons; Staff Walks Out". 2006-02-07. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |org= ignored (help)
  35. "P.E.I. student paper publishes cartoons of Prophet". 2006-02-08. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |org= ignored (help)
  36. "Muslim anger hits SA". 2006-02-05. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |org= ignored (help)
  37. "Gunmen shut EU Gaza office over cartoons". 2006-02-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |org= ignored (help)
  38. "Embassies burn in cartoon protest". 2006-02-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |org= ignored (help)
  39. Template:De icon"Brennende Botschaften und Antisemitismus". 2006-02-05. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |org= ignored (help)
  40. "Newspaper shut for printing cartoons". 2006-02-07. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |org= ignored (help)
  41. "Sarawak paper prints Prophet cartoon, editor quits". 2006-04-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |org= ignored (help)
  42. "Islam-West divide 'grows deeper'". 10 February 2006. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |org= ignored (help)
  43. http://www.ww4report.com/node/1586
  44. http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/3A6809B2-A7A4-4170-9B94-099FAEE84761.htm
  45. http://www.ww4report.com/node/1586
  46. http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/3A6809B2-A7A4-4170-9B94-099FAEE84761.htm
  47. The Danish constitution
  48. The International Centre for the Legal Protection of Human Rights - Written Comments
  49. ;Painting by Jens Jørgen Thorsen
  50. Danish movie Jesus vender tilbage
  51. Jesus vender tilbage plot description in the New York Times
  52. Guardian article Feb 6, 2006 on refusal to publish Jesus cartoons
  53. Making fun of Queen Margrethe II
  54. ENAR Shadow Report 2004 Denmark
  55. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hi/hi_fimu.htm
  56. http://www.superluminal.com/cookbook/index_flat_gallery.html#
  57. http://www.zombietime.com/mohammed_image_archive
  58. Template:News reference
  59. Template:News reference
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