Danish Muslims in cartoon protest

[Steve Gardner]

Now I'm all for free speech. Absolutely no question. And if the Danes want to publish pictures of the Prophet Muhammad, let them do so.

But I have to wonder why they want to. There's something awry with the logic:

• Danish cartoonists draw cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad
  
• Danish newspapers publish cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad
  
• Muslims protest
  
• Some Muslims plot to kill the cartoonists
  
• Because of the above point, Danish newspapers decide to republish cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad.

I reiterate, I am absolutely in favour of free speech, but am I alone in thinking the decision to republish the cartoons is simply asking for trouble? Notwithstanding their right to do so, isn't it just a deliberate attempt to rub their rights in the faces of those they know, 100%, are guaranteed to react badly.

For me, this is another attempt to provoke the Muslim community in order to help demonise them in the minds of the general public.

Source: BBC

By Frances Harrison
BBC religious affairs reporter, Copenhagen

Hundreds of Danish Muslims have been demonstrating in Copenhagen against the reprinting of a cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad they consider offensive.

The cartoon depicts the Prophet with a bomb in his turban.

All major Danish newspapers decided to republish it after Danish intelligence said it had uncovered a plot to kill one of the cartoonists.

Protestors marched in the capital's streets shouting "God is Great!" and "Freedom of speech is like a plague!".

Many carried the black and white flags of Hizb ut-Tahrir - the radical Islamic party that calls for the creation of a caliphate.

Earlier, at Friday prayers, Danish Muslims from many backgrounds expressed frustration that one of the cartoons they find so offensive could have been printed again.

Weary resignation

Many said they simply could not understand the motive unless it was hatred for Islam.

But the overwhelming mood was not so much anger but weary resignation; a sense that they have been through this crisis once before and nothing has been learnt.

Some Danish Muslims said they felt the problem was not the Danish people who were, if not well informed about Islam, at least generally liberal.

Instead, they pointed the finger of blame at the Danish media, saying it had stirred controversy instead of trying to help mend community relations.

On Tuesday, Denmark's Security and Intelligence Service said it had uncovered a plot by three Muslims in Denmark to kill one of the cartoonists.

Two of the men, who are not Danish citizens, are due to be expelled to Tunisia rather than put on trial.

Many Danish Muslims criticised this decision, saying it would be better to examine the evidence and punish the men if they were really guilty.