Cartoons of Mohammed Spark Controversy
A Danish newspaper printed a series of cartoons, caricatures if you will, of the Islamic Prophet Mohammed that have sparked a controversy with world wide ramifications. The cartoons have since been republished in a variety of newspapers in France, Germany, Italy and Spain and have sparked demonstrations and riots across the Muslim world.
In France the front page of the France-Soir tabloid carried the headline "Yes, We Have the Right to Caricature God" and reprinted the cartoons. (The managing editor has since been fired. "We express our regrets to the Muslim community and all people who were shocked by the publication of the cartoons," France Soir's Egyptian-born owner Raymond Lakah said. )
Understand that Islamic law forbids the depiction of the Prophet. By their standards this was "blasphemy."
I am a free speech advocate...or at least I like to think of myself in that way. But this is not free speech. This is HATE. Germany has strict laws prohibiting Nazi materials. This is no different. The cartoons were published to appeal to people who resent Muslim immigrants. Predictably the cartoons provoked a violent reaction. Why would they not? The cartoons were not topical, they did not lampoon a current political figure or situation. They were intended to offend and instigate.
Understand that this has a context. It is mere months since the riots in France, brought on by the shooting deaths of Islamic youths by French police. There have been riots in the Netherlands and in Denmark against the Muslims living there. Europe, every country in Europe, has a history of crimes against minorities living within their borders. And in recent memory I might add.
Die Welt in Germany rationalized its "legal" action by pointing that "Syrian TV had depicted Jewish rabbis as cannibals." As though Germany has a long history of upholding Jewish rights.
An excellent commentary has been written by Rachard Itani here: Link
I know that when Europe begins to publish hateful materials against Arabs, hatred against Jews is soon to follow. As Chris Rock says, "That train is NEVER late."