Cartoon Clash of Civilizations

Jyllands-Posten, the Danish newspaper that first published the cartoons of the prophet Muhammad that have caused a storm of protest throughout the Islamic world, refused to run drawings lampooning Jesus Christ, it has emerged today.
The Danish daily turned down the cartoons of Christ three years ago, on the grounds that they could be offensive to readers and were not funny.

In April 2003, Danish illustrator Christoffer Zieler submitted a series of unsolicited cartoons dealing with the resurrection of Christ to Jyllands-Posten.



http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,1703501,00.html

Every other religion (other than islam) has its icons displayed in a variety of (objectionable to some) ways. How about a broadway play with Jesus having sex with Judas. Been done. India`s most famous (muslim) painter uses hindu dieties as subjects.

But in other case does a cartoon published in an obscure Norwegian paper in Sep 2005 gain wide publicity and affect remote corners of Afghanistan.

I dont see how muslims can coexist in pluralistic societies if they are not willing to be open to satire and criticism.

The US media unfortunately has resorted to a lot of self censorship on this issue. Even some article on Newsweek has been taken off line.

NEW YORK, Feb 8 (Reuters) - The editors of a New York alternative newspaper which drew criticism last year for making light of Pope John Paul`s failing health resigned on Wednesday over what they called their managers` refusal to publish controversial cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammad.

The cartoons, one of which showed the Prophet Mohammad with a turban resembling a bomb, have sparked fury from some Muslims and violent protests at Danish embassies and other European targets in the Middle East. For many Muslims, Islam forbids images of the Prophet.

In an article on the New York Observer`s Web site on Wednesday, Harry Siegel said that he and three colleagues on the editorial board of the New York Press resigned after being ordered not to print the cartoons in an issue dedicated to the controversy.

``New York Press, like so many other publications, has suborned its own professed principles,`` Siegel wrote.

Peter Polimino, general manager of the New York Press, said the images were not critical to allowing readers to make an informed opinion on the issue and publishing them could ``further fan the flame of a volatile situation.``

``We came to the same conclusion as many other responsible newspapers and media outlets that have chosen to not run the Danish cartoons,`` Polimino said in a statement.

The cartoons were first published by the Danish Jyllands-Posten newspaper in September but the dispute erupted in earnest last month and several European newspapers have reprinted them in what they say is a defense of free speech.

Moderate Muslim groups have condemned the violence and urged restraint.

Only a handful of U.S. newspapers have reprinted the cartoons, which have been circulated widely on the Internet.

The New York Press is a small alternative publication with a history of needling authority. Last year it came under fire for making light of the failing health of Pope John Paul II in a column headlined ``The 52 Funniest Things About the Upcoming Death of the Pope.`` Then-editor Jeff Koyen was reprimanded and chose to quit rather than accept a suspension.

Freedom is the core of the democracy, it is the right to lives, liberty, human happiness, dignity. All these rights are safeguarded by democratic institution. Free Press is the basic foundation for democratic mindset. Press is feared, but, this fear must be out of respect and faith of different people as the security guards. Now, in an uninhibited press, there is no pre censorship. This has put more responsibility on the shoulders of press for the principles of collective responsibility and accountibility.Even in democratic constitution, there are dos and don`ts under executive, legislature and judiciary institutions, same way press has specific role and is expected to functions under guidelines. If, they disregard these guidelines,there will be chaos and jungle kaa kanoon.I am all with total freedom of press and freedom of expression, press deserves it`s own freedom to work for the betterment of society.But, freedom of press must accompany a sense of accountability, sense of responsibility with subjective fairness and analysis of freedom. Freedom of press is for society, for people to be well informed of the facts via a medium called press, again for the well-being of the society. Absolutely not for the restlessness or not to create havoc and disruption. Press doesn`t deserve freedom, it is people who deserve this freedom. Press is for people. So, if, well-being of people in any way is being threatened, damaged and disruptive, then press should reconsider it`s freedom ... it means it is not serving it`s right purpose. Press freedom is more of respect of faith, and we expect press to use this right of freedom with more responsibility and restraints in the issues of social, national and international integrity to abide by ,``self-censor`` policy. Freedom of press is a right to be given to the people of the country, not a license to hurt and hound and ultimately kill innocent people. I believe press cannot be insensitive to peoples needs in hurting and hounding them illogically.

With provision of ,``Law of defamation,`` can help people in having fast judicial system against intentional character assassinating press and also against mutual responsibility to humiliate others faiths and beliefs and religions. Again, greater responsibility to make sure freedom of press is acting judicially and cautiously lies with in the press itself.

Printing Islamic central figures cartoons for the sole purpose of humiliation of Muslims is the abuse of press freedom. Now, some people raise the issue, that Muslims should have reforms in themselves, they are not right, they are not worth it, they are weak, they shouldn`t do this, they shouldn`t do that, bah, bah, bah..................................

This is absolutely NOT the question of how Muslims should be or shouldn`t be. The whole point is, press freedom should be more responsible in self censoring controversial issues, and exclusively the ones, which lead to killings of innocent people and dismantling and disrupting their lives.................................................................You abuse people`s emotion and then expect them to stay calm.................No way.

believe firmly from the core of my heart and mind that publishing Prophet`s cartoons or any other religious cartoons are hate crimes, reflecting the extreme and cruel hatred those who created and published the cartoons have toward Prophet Muhammed and Islam.
They say that their interpretation of democracy differ from that of ours. But a democracy can’t function without freedom of speech - and if one group or another is able to determine what can or cannot be said, then you don’t have freedom of speech and you can’t claim to be a democracy.

In Denmark, you can speak out about Iraq, Palestine, Israel, Islam, or any other issue that motivates you and - unless you are advocating violence - no-one will stop you. But, if you want to enjoy the right to say what you like regardless of how uncomfortable it makes others, then you have to accept that others have the same right to say things that you don’t want to hear.

{{{{Now, most recent report on this issue is, some people sent humiliating cartoons of Jesus to the same Danish news paper to publish, which they rejected based on bleshphamy and accountability.}}} and sensitivity of the issue.

So, this is the hypocrisy of Europe.............................................
But, even if they do or don`t care about other`s feelings, their publications were useless and stupid to create such a chaos. I suggest, all muslim countries should ban the products of Denmark.

PS:- It is not that I am emphasising on Jesus`s cartoons publications, but, i am merely pointing out the exact intentions of Danish media. I will be equally offended if they will publish any prophet`s cartoons.

Re: 78
``It is because, once criticism of this excellent individual is allowed, the floodgates will open, and people will feel free to start openly discussing and criticizing his MANY heinous actions.``

indeed. this is why the intensity of Hellfire for punishment of naysayers increase in direct proportion to the level of incredulity with which they approach Islam

:-)

teshah sir:
i was referring to Blasphemy punishment in Shariah Law as Naqshbandi also pointed out.

Pakistani blasphemy laws can be modified by the state and hopefully it will happen one day.

ballukhan:
That seems to be the case.

omar_r_quraishi:
in the legendary words of Mohammad`s alter-ego:
109.006: To you be your Way, and to me mine.





:

In every arab newspaper, EVERYDAY - hateful images of jews. Radio programs in which jews are claimed to eat children alive on purim, jews fled WTC before 9/11, on and on, a river of hatred.

In pakistan, a river of hatred towards hindus. In every urdu newspaper, the most ugliest generalization and hateful thought towards the idol worshippers.

BUT GUESS WHAT THE REAL PROBLEM IS? some cartoons drawn in a danish newspaper.

SOcieties based on hate dare to critcise others? But what do you expect? These are noble warriors with brains made of stone.

Hopefully, europe will understand what they are dealing with. The goverments will stop accepting garbage in the name of multi-culturalism. Right-of-centre goverments will be elected with a mandate for danda and straight talk. Quietly, immigration from latin america. china and india will be encouraged in place of the believers.

And so it goes...

Bina Shah

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006/02/07/story_7-2-2006_pg1_6

This guy got sentenced to death for blasphemy of the Prophet. Any comments?

Re: # 79

Sadna, I never quite understand the point of your questions. You ask intelligent people to ``give comments`` on issues that really have only one correct answer, as if hoping that they`ll trap themselves into saying something that you can gloat upon and twist in your next interact. Next you`ll be asking me if I approve of the suicide bombing that took place in NWFP on Ashura. This kind of sly trickery really doesn`t impress me much and I wish you`d give it a rest.

Any kind of offensive statement about icons of any religion draws angry protests from followers of that religion.

But Muslim reaction to ANY slight to Muhammad is exceptionally virulent.

There is good reason why Muslim reaction is so rabid.

It is because, once criticism of this excellent individual is allowed, the floodgates will open, and people will feel free to start openly discussing and criticizing his MANY heinous actions.

And that would be disastrous for the Muslim society, because they would be fighting a losing battle, trying to justify his many wonderful actions.

So it is self-preservation for the Muslims. Hence the furore.

But as Europe has shown, that day is coming.

All the signs are there - oil losing importance slowly but steadily, the West waking up to the true picture of Islam, and defending it`s cultural heritage for intellectual openness etc, and people finally starting to discuss this incomparable man.




There`s hope yet.

Re: # 78

``Any kind of offensive statement about icons of any religion draws angry protests from followers of that religion.

But Muslim reaction to ANY slight to Muhammad is exceptionally virulent.

There is good reason why Muslim reaction is so rabid.

It is because, once criticism of this excellent individual is allowed, the floodgates will open, and people will feel free to start openly discussing and criticizing his MANY heinous actions.

And that would be disastrous for the Muslim society, because they would be fighting a losing battle, trying to justify his many wonderful actions.``


In the case of Islam perhaps there is no need of any criticism even to evoke violent protest. A Hindu Jay Pal by name who had dared only to publish a compilation reproducing certain Ahadees relating to the sex life of the prophet was lynched allegedly by Ilam Deen, a teen age son of a `tarkhan`. I say allegedly as Ilam Deen had himsel denied having commottied the murder bfore the court.

``Anyway, the cartoons, which I refuse to look at because I don`t feel like being insulted while I have the flu - adding insult to injury - have prompted the usual angry reaction from the Arab world: beat up a few useless supermarket employees, burn some flags, recall ambassadors and in the case of Libya shut down the embassy (good riddance to bad Arabs I can hear the Danes saying).``

One very long sentence! Do not let Dad sell the family lands just yet Bina. You may even have to stand in line for sugar if you were counting on your literary efforts to buy Danish butter.

Bina Shah has flu. Is it an injury, caused by Danish butter?
She refused to look at the cartoons.
She did not like to be insulted.
Honestly, the world could wait until you were strong enough to take insults, Bina Ji.
Do you really think that Chowk was holding its breath waiting for your opinion, until you had lookied at the cartoons?
Looks like the cartoons were not that important to your advice. You want Muslims to express with financial boycotts etc. but do it without you.

``I should join in the boycott too as soon as I can steel myself to give up my Lurpak butter.``

Is Lurpak butter really all that good?

Bina Shah wrote about Allah`s hand in everything that happens:

``What I`m trying to do is to find Allah in this situation, as I believe He exists in every situation. It’s obvious where Allah is in the aftermath of this earthquake – nowhere more obviously than in the compassion that we are exhibiting for those who have been injured and afflicted in this earthquake.......there was kindness and mercy even in His plans for those thousands that died that terrible day two weeks ago. Perhaps He took their souls in an instant. Perhaps it was such a surprise or shock for them that they had no time to be afraid. Perhaps those who were trapped and eventually died drifted into a state of unconsciousness and died in some peace. Perhaps Allah sent his angels to comfort and support them even as their lives were ebbing away.``

Does Allah know how to read Danish papers? Can Bina tell us what she thinks of Allah`s hand in death of five people as reported by Mullah Omar in #72? Is it a test of Muslim`s faith? When is Mullah Omar going to prove HIS faith?

Or, or, or could it be that Allah really does not care about Danes or the posturing of idiots on Chowk?

hey look what a shayar (probably Hali?) has to say about Bina, as a token of appreciation for her immaculate insight into matters like this...

dil-i-Bina bhi ker khuda se talab
aankh ka noor dil ka noor nahiN

aadaab ;)