Tue 7 Feb 2006
As I understand it, it is forbidden in Islam to make depictions (positive or negative) of the Prophet Mohammed (probably deriving from the second of the Ten Commandments forbidding graven images). An author in Denmark was therefore having difficulty locating a cartoonist who felt comfortable drawing the religious icon for an upcoming book. An appeal for help was broadcast and, soon enough, a dozen cartoonists offered their skills by sending in representative drawings. Many of those drawings turned out to be (as cartoons sometime are) less-than-flattering. A Danish newspaper decided to print those submissions last in September. Months later, political and religious Muslim leaders used the publication of those drawings to enrage their followers. What followed were militant, violent demonstrations beginning in Denmark and spreading virally throughout Europe (particularly as other European newspapers printed the cartoons in support of free speech).
Questions I’ve been thinking about: what denotes free speech and when does freedom of expression transition from merely offensive to becoming a hate crime? What are appropriate responses to attacks on fundamental religious philosophies? When it is ok to ignore the rule of law and act according to conscience (or according to how a religious vade mecum dictates?) Why do Muslims at large seem lately to react differently (read: more violently) to external stimuli? What about the Muslim (or middle-eastern?) culture makes it easier to incite crowds to mob destructiveness and disorder?
ideas? comments?
Below are the cartoons published in Denmark’s Jyllands-Posten. Click each image to enlarge.
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