Friday, February 3, 2006

Tension Rises Over Cartoons of Muhammad

CARTOON MADNESS

Muslim demonstrators burn a Norweigian flag in the West Bank town of Nablus where Muslims during a protest against the countries who published cartoons representing the Prophet Mohammed. Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen offered no apologies for cartoons, but tried to defuse the crisis as Muslims across the world gathered for prayers.(AFP/Jaafar Ashtiyeh)
A protestor holds up a placard during a demonstration outside the Danish embassy over the publication of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad, in London February 3, 2006. The cartoons, which first appeared in a Danish newspaper, have sparked outrage across the Islamic world, although Britain's normally provocative newspapers have so far refused to publish them. REUTERS/Mike Finn-Kelcey COMMENTLINE
Those are some disconcerting images, aren't they? I'll include more pictures in a later post.

In any event, here's today's collection of tension provoking news about the Muhammad cartoons story.

Please see below for links to earlier posts for my comments, links to cartoon images.

Question: Does just because you can do something mean that you have to do it?

NEWSLINE
Political analysts from both sides described the newspapers' printing of the cartoons as a dangerous incitement in a conflict that has already alienated the growing Muslim populations of West European nations and hardened extremists in both camps.

NEWSBYTES
Tension Rises Over Cartoons of Muhammad
Publication Widens In Europe as Protests Grow in Islamic World
(washingtonpost.com) PARIS, Feb. 2 -- Protests against European newspapers' publication of cartoons lampooning the prophet Muhammad gained momentum across the Islamic world Thursday as Pakistani schoolchildren burned French and Danish flags and Muslim presidents denounced the drawings. At the same time, more European news organizations printed or broadcast the caricatures, citing a need to defend freedom of expression.

U.S. Calls Muhammad Drawings 'Offensive'
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) -- Tens of thousands of angry Muslims marched through Palestinian cities, burning the Danish flag and calling for vengeance Friday against European countries where caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad were published. In Washington, the State Department criticized the...

Row over Prophet Mohammad cartoons rages
PARIS (Reuters) -- European leaders on Friday called for restraint as more newspapers published caricatures of the Prophet Mohammad, saying freedom of speech was sacrosanct, and Muslims protested against the jokes they consider blasphemous.

Muslims in new cartoon protests
(BBC) -- Fresh protests are being made by Muslims angered by the publication of newspaper cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad.

Thousands Protest 'Offensive' Cartoons in Gaza
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) -- Tens of thousands of angry Muslims marched through Palestinian cities, burning the Danish flag and calling for vengeance Friday against European countries where caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad were published.

Gunmen shut EU Gaza office over cartoons
JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Palestinian gunmen Thursday shut down the European Union's office in Gaza City, demanding an apology for German, French and Norwegian newspapers reprinting cartoons featuring the prophet Mohammad, Palestinian security sources said.

Jyllands Posten Cartoons
Images mirror site.

Muhammad Cartoon Gallery
Images mirror site.

ALSO SEE
Muhammad Cartoon Row Keeps Intensifying

Muhammad cartoon row intensifies

NOTE: Mouseover pictures for captions.
NOTE: All rights are reserved by image owners; site content is linked only.

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posted by Steven Moyer at 1:18 PM

1 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

There is a Lack of basic Islamic knowledge in the Western world.
People only need to take a moment of their time to realise that Muslims live their lives on the basis of religion. Islam is a part of them, it is who they are. Islam is something that Muslims practice on a daily basis not just every Sunday or whenever they want.

I have found these cartoons extremely offensive. There are no words that can explain how much love Muslims have for their prophets. And by portraying our last prophet as a terrorist was a below the belt move. What did they expect, us to laugh about it and see the funny side???

I believe that theses cartoons were published by a chief editor who has a lack of basic knowledge in Islam and is extremely ignorant. Any knowledgeable person would have known of the consequences of just a sensitive publication. If his intentions were to cause uproar in the Muslim world then he sure has done a good job.

Knowledge comes from education. It is only when people are educated with just basic knowledge of Islam will they understand the current issue. The West and Europe keeps talking about and promising new ties with the Islamic world and then go and insult the fundamental parts of our religion.

Many Muslims are taking it as a personal threat to Islam when other countries are publishing the pictures . Why after the current situation would other countries start reprinting them, why?.... they are truly rubbing salt in the wounds of a billion Muslims. Muslim’s are feeling that Europe and the west are mocking Islam and all that we believe. They say they are practising freedom of expression but in reality they are forcing the tiny minority of extremist to commit their atrocities and then show in the media the so called “true picture” of Islam and its followers.

I totally condemn the action of violence that has been occurring world-wide due to the cartoons. It is wrong.

I believe that a world wide apology should be made by the countries responsible. It is a tricky subject when we talk about freedom of the press as most times the governments are not involved. But freedom of speech to some extent must come at a price.

I believe that boycotting is the best form of protesting. If the Danes and other European countries can not understand why we are “so worked up” about just a few cartoons then maybe they will understand the financial loss that they will occur due to their irresponsible actions. It is the only way that a message will go out that this should not happen again.

I believe strongly in freedom of speech and in my religion. I also believe in respecting others. The media needs to understand what their limits are. Sometimes we need to put ourselves in the shoes of others.

I pray that this situation does not escalate to other forms of violence.
The most valuable power we have is our knowledge, lets use this to help others understand.

Religion is all some people have in this world.
Please don’t mock it.

10:11 AM EST  

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