Bloggers are discussing the widespread outrage in the Islamic world about cartoons that were recently republished in several European newspapers.
The comics were originally published in the Jyllands-Posten, a Danish
newspaper. "Jyllands-Posten" is currently #1 on Technorati which shows the
growing interest in this story. There have been threats of violence against those publishing the cartoons and boycotts of Danish products by Muslims who consider the cartoons and production of images of the Prophet Mohammed to be blasphemous.
A Media Cynic article includes a link to this webpage which shows depictions of the Prophet Mohammed that have been created throughout history including the recent cartoons. The mainstream media hasn't been publishing the controversial cartoons but the cartoons originally published in the Jyllands-Posten are now posted all over the Web on numerous blogs. They can also be found on photo sharing tools like Flickr.
(via The Bellman)
Here is some more coverage of the cartoons and the anger and protests occuring in parts of the Islamic world.
The Media Cynic explains the situation so far and suggests buying some Danish products to support them during the boycott.
If anyone is offended by the Danish cartoons and wants to show his displeasure by refusing to buy Danish Butter Cookies or some of the other myriad Danish products that are being removed from Middle Eastern store shelves, fine. That's a non-violent way to protest (although it's quite unfair to Danish companies who had nothing to do with the cartoons in question). But if anyone carries out a threat of violence to innocent bystanders -- Danish or otherwise -- because of a cartoon, they they should be dealt with in a very harsh manner.
Why not show your support for free speech by either 1) eating a delicious Danish Butter Cookie, 2) buying a Bang & Olufson stereo system or 3) buying a new set of Legos for a favorite child.
Other bloggers saying Buy Danish include GOP Bloggers,
HNN and WilcoxZone). The Media Cynic post also notes a Deutsche Welle report that the Al-Shihan, an independent Jordanian newspaper, has published a few of the comics.
Michelle Malkin calls the
American media cowards for not showing the cartoons and has a roundup of
blog posts.
USA Today's On Deadline blog says there have been protesters in Pakistan yelling "Death to France!" and "Death to Denmark!" Newspapers in Denmark and France have published the controversial cartoons.
The CJR Daily blog explains how many bloggers have pounced on the story.
Hyscience has a petition to support the Jyllands-Posten.
Christine Smallwood at The Notion (one of The Nation's blogs) writes: "It's complicated, but I'm strongly in favor of supporting those who publish even right-wing, offensive cartoons, poor judgment or no. Editorial freedom, including satire, is a deeply prized and hard-won right that we shouldn't be intimidated into giving up. It's a slippery slope. Just as we can't allow
Christian fundamentalists to prevent satirizing the church in American papers, or the Bush Administration from prohibiting protest, nor should we allow fundamentalists of any kind to rewrite the world in their image. Secular papers have the right, and the duty, to live by secular rules."
An article from Frontpage magazine has the cartoons and a timeline of events. (via Protein Wisdom)
The Counterterrorism Blog explains how some fabricated cartoons that were never published in the Danish newspaper (including one where the Prophet has a pig face) have made the situation much worse.
New Civilization News in post titled "Denmark vs Mohammed" writes: "OK, maybe it wasn't the greatest idea in the world to ask some cartoonists for pictures of the Prophet Mohammed. But, hey, Denmark is a free country where nobody will get away with taking themselves too seriously. So, if you want to make a funny, irreverant or insulting picture of the Pope, Queen Elizabeth, Jesus, Elvis, George Bush ... or Mohammed, then... so what. Might be funny, might not be."
Thomas de Zengotita at Huffington Post asks where do American progressives stand on this: "So, without going on and on analyzing the dilemma, let me
sum it up with this way; will progressive American publications republish those cartoons? If they do, how will they explain it? If they don't, how will they explain it?"
Update 2-4-03 -- A few more posts from the blogosphere on this issue:
Michelle Malkin has a Muhammed Cartoons Blogburst which contains a growing list of blogs that are reprinting the controversial cartoons. She also links to New Zealand's Stuff.co.nz which has reprinted the cartoons.
Writer's Blog: The situation has become scary for the twelve cartoonists that created the Mohammed cartoons. The cartoonists are afraid for their lives and in hiding. A spokesperson said the cartoonists didn't want the cartoons reprinted all over the world.
The Moderate Voice has a roundup of news and blog coverage.
Sploid reports that the Bush Administration has sided with the outraged Muslims instead of backing the free press and free speech for the cartoonists.
The BBC has a roundup of comments from world newspapers.
Second Update 2-4-03
Erik's Field Diary has
a good post on the cartoon controversy that includes links to news articles and some Turkish blogs.
The SF Gate has an article with reactions from Bay Area Muslims. Many are upset by the cartoons but they advocate only peaceful protests such as not buying Danish products. So far no blogs
are linking to this article.
American Turk: "I support the Danish newspaper's right to publish anything they
want. They can show Mohamed with horns and forked tongue and split hooves for all I care. They will answer for their blasphemy eventually, G-d doesn't need our help. And yes it goes without saying that this is a huge insult, but nothing we do will reverse time, and nobody deserves any punishment for this, at least in this life."
Global Voices has a post
with a roundup of coverage from around the world.
Many blogs are linking to the BBC article about the news that Syrians have set fire to the Norwegian and Danish embassies in Damascus to protest the cartoons.
Boycotts could backfire and cause Mulims to lose jobs according to this
CNS News article: "Denmark-based Arla Foods said a consumer
boycott has affected sales throughout the Middle East and North Africa. More
than 800 employees, mostly locals, work at the Saudi operation, although Arla
said no jobs were yet at risk."
Inspirations and Creative Thoughts draws a comparison to the 2nd Commandment in a post about losing the sense for the
sacred: "Islamic law, based on clerics' interpretation of the Quran and the sayings of the prophet, forbids depictions of the Prophet Muhammad and other major religious figures even positive ones to prevent idolatry. This matter is taken very seriously in Islam. In this matter, you can say, Muslims respect the 2nd Commandments of the 10 Commandments given to Mankind by God."
Towards God is our Journey has a roundup
that contains viewpoints from many Muslim bloggers.
Talking Points Memo: "So liberal mores versus theocratic mores. Where's the possible
compromise? There isn't any. On the face of it this gets portrayed as an issue of press
freedom. But this is much more fundamental. 'Press freedom' is just one cog in the
machinery of a society that doesn't believe in or accept the idea of 'blasphemy'. Now,
an important cog? Yes. But I think we're fooling ourselves to reduce this to something
so juridical and rights based."
Turkish
Torque: "There are serious and irreconcilable contradictions between the
Judeo-Christian and Islamic civilizations and it's not easy to eliminate them. During
this latest controversy we were reminded of that fact once again. However, this lack of
reconciliation should not give anybody the right to insult Islam and those who believe
in it."
Muslim Wakeup has a post about
making a mountain out of a molehill: "Can we finally admit that Muslims have blown
out of all proportion their outrage over 12 cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammad
published in a Danish newspaper last September?"
