[u]Envoys meet as Muslim anger grows[/u]
Muslims have staged fresh protests in the row over cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad, as Denmark – where the row started – made a new bid to calm anger. Danish PM Anders Fogh Rasmussen called in Muslim ambassadors to explain his position over the images’ publication. He said he could never apologise for a newspaper’s actions but said he was “distressed” at offence caused.
The cartoons, some of which depict the Prophet as a terrorist, have angered Muslims who regard them as blasphemous. However, more European papers have printed the cartoons, citing free speech.
So what do you think? Are Muslims justified in their response or was this a case of free speech? What are your other thoughts?
I’ll reserve my comment until later, as I wouldn’t want to prejudice any discussion to begin with. But certainly the reaction has been very strong. Someone said on the news that this would unite Muslims more than the attacks on Iraq.
By: atc pal - 3rd February 2006 at 19:01
Cartoons
I find it a little funny, as a country, being “attacked” by Saudi Arabia, for instance. They simply can not fathom that a “liberal” paper, though “friendly” to the PM, can print whatever they like.
Try bringing a bible through customs in Saudi Arabia!
And by the way nobody are demonstrating and “burning flags” in the streets of these states unless instructed from “above”.
Best regards
By: Stealth Spy - 3rd February 2006 at 18:49
Hi, I’m neither a Muslim nor a Christian, nor am i from Denmark or any western country for that matter.
My take >> I’ll quote the great Voltaire.
“I do not agree with what you have to say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it.”
P.S : Here are the cartoons form Jyllands-Posten >> http://epaper.jp.dk/30-09-2005/demo/JP_04-03.html
The cartoons are in bad taste, but it IMHO is not wrong to publish it.The Muslim reactions to this are way too excessive and immature IMHO.
I hope the protesting muslims understand that Denmark is a soverign nation and its press is free unlike in their society.
Religion IMHO is a set of ideas that is open to question and criticism. I am Hindu and live in India and i will take in the stride if such a thing is done on my very own religion, although i would’nt be too pleased about it.
Instead of questioning the right to publish sensetive things, IMHO the debate should be about the contents of the cartoon.
I salute the Danish Government for not giving to pressure and not apologising for the acts. There was no need for the newspaper to do so as well IMHO.
Newspapers in Iran and Pakistan are full of racist slur of far greater magnitude (about Judaism, Buddhism, Jainism, Christianity, Israel, India, etc..) almost everyday. I winder how the world would have been if the rest of the non-islamic world had reacted to such silly things in the way these guys are :rolleyes:
If the rest of the world were to follow their madrassa logic then there sould have been mass murders and water tight embargoes and sanctions in retaliation for the hundreds of flags of Denmark, Israel, USA, UK, etc that these guys burn (again justified as ‘Freedom’ in the Islamic world) – often residing in the same countries ! 😡
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February 3, 2006 at 6:42 pm