Perhaps everyone should read Wilkipedia that Jamesan has posted the link:
The
Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy began after complaints were made about twelve
editorial cartoons depicting the
Islamic prophet Muhammad. The cartoons were printed in the
Danish daily newspaper
Jyllands-Posten on
September 30,
2005. Some of the cartoons were reprinted in the
Norwegian Christian newspaper
Magazinet on
January 10,
2006, and later in the German newspaper
Die Welt, the
French daily
France Soir, and many other European newspapers. In response to an outcry from the Muslim community, the employment of the chief editor of
France Soir was
terminated by
Raymond Lakah, the Franco-Egyptian (and
Roman Catholic) owner of the newspaper.
The drawings, which include a depiction of Muhammad with a bomb in his
turban, were meant as
satirical illustrations accompanying an article on
self-censorship and
freedom of speech.
Jyllands-Posten commissioned and published the cartoons in response to the difficulty of Danish writer
Kåre Bluitgen to find artists to illustrate his
children's book about Muhammad, for fear of violent attacks by
extremist Muslims. Islamic teachings forbid the depiction of Muhammad as a measure against
idolatry (see
aniconism); however, in the past there have been non-satirical depictions of Muhammad by Muslims. Although
Jyllands-Posten maintains that the drawings were an exercise in free speech, many people (Muslim and otherwise) in Denmark and elsewhere view them as provocative, offensive, disrespectful, blasphemic and
islamophobic.
In reaction to the articles, several
death threats have been made, resulting in two newspaper
cartoonists reportedly going into hiding, and the newspaper enhancing its security precautions. The
foreign ministries of eleven
Islamic countries demanded action from the Danish government, and
Libya eventually closed its embassy in Denmark in protest after the government refused to censure the newspaper or apologise. The Danish prime minister said, "The government refuses to apologise because the government does not control the media or a newspaper outlet; that would be in violation of the freedom of speech". A large consumer
boycott was organised in
Saudi Arabia,
Kuwait, and elsewhere in other Arabic speaking countries. Recently 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.
[1] Protests have also taken place against the cartoons.
Something that started in September last year, which any sensitive persons respecting another person's religion would definitely agreed that further publishing and propagating the cartoon is definitely wrong, whether in the name of free press or free expression.
