German newspaper Die Welt includes the response of a speaker from the German Journalists’ Federation over Die Welt’s decision to run two of the Danish cartoons that have caused such a controversey.
A speaker of the German journalists’ federation (German Journalists’ Federation) criticized however into „ the Netzeitung “ the reproduction of Mohammed caricatures in German newspapers. Publications in word and picture, which can hurt the moral or religious feeling of a person’s group after form and contents substantially not to agree upon its with the responsibility of the press.
Ok, then stop running all cartoons of any kind because there might be someone who gets offended. Actually, there’s always someone who gets offended at every single cartoon. Instead of cowering to demands of those who are offended, back up the right to free speech which is a staple of Democracy and Western civilization.
One group of Danish Muslims, led by a young imam named Ahmed Akkari, grew so frustrated by their inability to get their message across in Denmark that they compiled a dossier of racist and culturally insensitive images circulating in Denmark and took them on an awareness-raising road show in the Arab World.
“There is currently a climate (in Denmark) that is contributing to the increase in racism,” the group warned in the introduction to a 43-page dossier it prepared before traveling to Egypt in late 2005.
Since when is a religion a race? Der Spiegel has the background of the Danish cartoon row including how three cartoons that were not published may have sparked the current fury.
What’s interesting is that according to Der Spiegel, Danish Muslims wrote into Jyllands-Posten to complain, which is fully in their right and I support that. When the desired response those writing Jyllands-Posten was not acheived, Imams went to Arab nations to protest bringing several images that allegedly depict ‘racism.’ This story is months old, but it was only after it gained publicity after Saudi Arabia decided to boycott Danish goods that it gained traction. So, in essense, the furor over the Danish cartoons is more about not being able to dominate the Danish media by a few rather than protest with the allmighty dollar, which I personally feel is the best form of protest or support to any business. Is that not oppression?
The editor of Jyllands-Posten believes the fight is over. “The dark dictatorships have won,” said Carsten Juste, editor of the Jyllands-Posten. I disagree because this discussion was brought out into the open. If anything, I feel that those “dark dictatorships” have lost because the world has seen what type of archaic savagery the other side will resort to.
Panther6170 - 
Tom Killebrew - 
Emm Bayoumi - 
lyndsey -
I guess it doesn’t help the Danes that the islamic group Hizb Ut Tahrir was prosecuted for a website that contained the following:
“kill them wherever you find them, and turn them out from where they have been turned you out” followed by, “The Jews are a people of slander…a treacherous people… they fabricate lies and twist words from their right context.”.
This site was hosted in London, but the group was not prosecuted in Britain.
The statement remained on the website until shortly after the London Bombings of 7th July.
The irony is that the rhetoric of victimhood, with regard to these cartoons, has changed to invoke the cartoons of the third reich and the persecution of the Jews.
Just as the rhetoric of victimhood after the London Bombings invoked the IRA, claiming that the Irish were not singled out as a terrorist people.
Agreed that didn’t happen in Washington.
I also agree with you about this whole affair exposing the “dark dictatorships”.
Plus, having seen the cartoons, that it shows how ridiculous zealots really are.
Comment by eeore — Thursday, February 2, 2006 @ 1:51 am UTC
Dear All,
I am an Egyptian Muslim who had my BA from the American university in Cairo and also my MBA. I have travelled to many countries around the world and have a lot of friends in Europe and USA.i also work in a multinational co that is originally German. You can say that i come from a background where relegion differences exist dramatically as my mother is a christian and all her family of course while me, my father and brothers are muslims. However, we all live in peace since 30 years respecting each other religious beliefs and prayers.
So as you see i am not really the kind of close-minded moslem or non-real Terrorist who kill people and call my self moslem !.
However, all of the west (Europe and USA) have to know that all of us as Muslims consider our prophet Mohamed Peace & Blessings be upon him as a vital and the Greatest ever leader not only for Islam but for the world as he is a man of peace & Mercy to Humanity which no one would understand except when reading about his life. We also respect and believe in Jesus and Moses and all other prophets. Prophet Mohamed peace and blessings be upon him is only the last of God’s prophets to the world carrying all the prophets’ teachings + some more to offer to the world from God a Final and Complete religion. As a result every muslim of us is seriously ready to give up his life for Prophet Mohamed peace and blessings be upon him regardless of his education or background. Moreover, at this moment i really disrespect all these countries who have published those caricutors claiming freedom of expression including Germany which i used to respect. Unfortunately, yes we arabs or muslims maybe currently in this world we are not great in many things but one thing we know for sure that we respect GOD and so all the prophets of GOD including Jesus, Moses blessings be upon them and finally Mohamed peace and blessings be upon him. NOT Seeing them doesn’t mean not repecting them !
Comment by Ashraf Hussein — Monday, February 6, 2006 @ 8:37 am UTC
Ashraf Hussein:
It doesn’t matter what Muslims think of Muhammad. Instead, we have freedom of speech in our countries–and that right includes the right to be critical of religions and religious icons. If Muslims can’t tolerate free speech, they shouldn’t move to countries that have such rights–its as simple as that.
Comment by Crusader — Monday, February 6, 2006 @ 9:41 am UTC
we confess you the european countries, many hundreds years try and try to have this silly ability to cretecise whome you are not know will, you were in extremely hard trials to tie our governments arabian governments by your white womens, red wines, gold, even your selves and spirits and sons in struggle wars, and we confess you did that will (but) islam is coming very very soon in HAMAS in Palestine, Afganestan, Pakistane Egypt and some other countries, by your Caricateurs not only those countries but all over the world as well has been awaking up so you had did what we were not able to do, so thank you for your dark black heart Islam is not what you know Islam other thing if you know you will fight for it, Mohammed did not ask us to be slaves to him but to Allah, this is what i wanted to talk you about, we prepare our selves, sons, all what we have, to fight you and dying defending our (no GOD but ALLAH Mohamed the prophit of ALLAH)
Comment by Dr.Mahmoud — Thursday, February 9, 2006 @ 5:02 am UTC