Preembt
31-01-2006, 23:46
On 30th of September last year, the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten printed 12 satirical drawings of the prophet Muhammed. Some of the drawings portray Muhammed as a terrorist having dynamite in his turban. You can see the drawings for yourself here: http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4159/384/1600/jyllandsposten.jpg
Many muslims have been severely offended by these drawings which has lead to an international boycott of all Danish exports goods in the Islamic countries in the Middle East. Especially the Danish giant producer of dairy are having severe economic losses.
Saudi-Arabia has amongst others both demanded an official apology and a punishment of the newspaper from the Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the Danish Prime Minister. He and the Danish government has refused to do so in the name of free speech, but has at the same time emphasized the fact that the Danish government does not in any way support the actions of Jyllands-Posten. Furthermore the Saudi-Arabian ambassador in Denmark has left the country in protest.
Jyllands-Posten has apologized for the insults they have made, but not for printing the drawings since they believe in their right to print whatever they like. The drawings were shown as a test of free speech in Denmark, says Jyllands-postens editor.
This conflict has escalated to extents unthought of. Muslims in Saudi-Arabia have burned the Danish flag, Dannebrog, while cursing Denmark. Imams from Denmark are travelling to the Middle East and spreading lies about even "more blasphemous drawings" and some are falsely accusing the Queen of Denmark of inciting the Danes to fight Islam. Muslim hackers has made several attacks on the website of Jyllandsposten (http://www.jp.dk) and other Danish sites.Danish hackers has returned this by attacking Islamic websites. Danes in Copenhagen has decided to "avenge" the burning of Dannebrog by urging the citizens of Denmark to burn the Muslims' holy book, The Koran.
I don't know how much these incidents are know internationally, but this could in my opinion turn out to be the most harming series of events to the international relationship between the western countries and the Muslim ones since september 11th and the Iraq-war.
What do you think? Should newspapers in Denmark be allowed to print drawings that offend Muslims to such a degree that it is considered blasphemic by many Muslims? Or should we, as will be proposed by a number of countries, legislate against offending various religons through the UN?
Many muslims have been severely offended by these drawings which has lead to an international boycott of all Danish exports goods in the Islamic countries in the Middle East. Especially the Danish giant producer of dairy are having severe economic losses.
Saudi-Arabia has amongst others both demanded an official apology and a punishment of the newspaper from the Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the Danish Prime Minister. He and the Danish government has refused to do so in the name of free speech, but has at the same time emphasized the fact that the Danish government does not in any way support the actions of Jyllands-Posten. Furthermore the Saudi-Arabian ambassador in Denmark has left the country in protest.
Jyllands-Posten has apologized for the insults they have made, but not for printing the drawings since they believe in their right to print whatever they like. The drawings were shown as a test of free speech in Denmark, says Jyllands-postens editor.
This conflict has escalated to extents unthought of. Muslims in Saudi-Arabia have burned the Danish flag, Dannebrog, while cursing Denmark. Imams from Denmark are travelling to the Middle East and spreading lies about even "more blasphemous drawings" and some are falsely accusing the Queen of Denmark of inciting the Danes to fight Islam. Muslim hackers has made several attacks on the website of Jyllandsposten (http://www.jp.dk) and other Danish sites.Danish hackers has returned this by attacking Islamic websites. Danes in Copenhagen has decided to "avenge" the burning of Dannebrog by urging the citizens of Denmark to burn the Muslims' holy book, The Koran.
I don't know how much these incidents are know internationally, but this could in my opinion turn out to be the most harming series of events to the international relationship between the western countries and the Muslim ones since september 11th and the Iraq-war.
What do you think? Should newspapers in Denmark be allowed to print drawings that offend Muslims to such a degree that it is considered blasphemic by many Muslims? Or should we, as will be proposed by a number of countries, legislate against offending various religons through the UN?