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MEDIA TOLD
Australians have received their orders:
A senior Islamic cleric has called on Australia’s media not to publish the cartoons which have sparked riots across the Muslim world.
Sheik Fehmi El-Imam, the general secretary of the Board of Imams of Victoria, warned reprinting the cartoons here could “disturb people who can do things that we don’t want them to do”.
Oh, I doubt it. Cartoons mocking various religions have been previously published in Australia thousands of times, and nobody went nuts. Why would things be different now?
"In some parts of the world there is rioting against the Danish and the Dutch, we don’t want that in Australia,” the sheik said today.
No, we don’t. So behave yourselves.
"Unfortunately, New Zealand has (published the cartoons) ... I’m trying to avoid, to put far away, any possibility of disturbing the peace in Australia."
Odd that this concern over maintaining the peace doesn’t limit Muslim commentary on other religions or communities. The Islamic Bookstore in Lakemba, for example, sells vicious anti-Semitic tract The Protocols of the Elders of Zion as well as various anti-Christian titles (Crucifixion – or Cruci-FICTION?). Sheik Khalid Yasin, a regular guest lecturer in Australia, declared that “there’s no such thing as a Muslim having a non-Muslim friend” and denounced modern clothes as the work of “faggots, homosexuals and lesbians”; Christians, he said, deliberately infected Africans with AIDS. Yasin wouldn’t merely draw cartoons of homosexuals—he’d have them put to death in accordance with Koranic law. One Imam told Australian students that Jews put poison in bananas. Local Iraqis voting in their country’s elections were shot at and otherwise intimidated by Islamic extremists whose banners announced: “You vote, you die.” These friends of free speech were also observed photographing those who dared to vote. Sheikh Feiz Muhammad told a supportive Bankstown crowd last year that women deserve to be raped if they wore “satanical” garments, including anything “strapless, backless, [or] sleeveless”, and also “mini-skirts [and] tight jeans.”
All of this is far more hateful and moronic than those twelve Danish cartoons, not one of which depicts the Prophet eating babies, poisoning fruit, or infecting Africans with AIDS. Far from being against hate-speech, many Muslim spokesmen seem to be aggressively for it; until, of course, someone contemplates publishing harmless drawings of an old beardy guy. At that point Sheik Fehmi El-Imam warns that we risk “disturbing the peace”.
Warning politely declined, Sheik:
UPDATE. Michelle Malkin maintains a list of MoToon posters (add the WogBlogger). And The Age—sensitive as ever—runs a picture gallery of reactions to the cartoons ... but won’t run the cartoons themselves.
You know, a few months back I suggested to my friends that if we really believed in free speech, the basic falsity of religion (although now being in my 40s rather than my 20s, I don’t burn with the desire to proselytize for atheism)(unlike Penn Jillette, say), we ought to announce International Flush a Koran For Freedom Day. They all thought this was in dreadful taste, needlessly provocative, etc.
So now I announce International Flush a Koran For Denmark Day. We are all Danish now. (Cheese, preferably.)
Sheik Fehmi El-Imam
Feel free to leave, Ill buy the ticket.
You are not my countryman, you cant be, Australians arent 7th century barbarians.
Heres a promise, “in some parts of the world if your followers riot “someone” may get a big juicy bacon rasher and put it in every Koran at my local library, and we wouldnt want that to happen in Australia”
Up to you buddy.Posted by thefrollickingmole on 2006 02 05 at 10:22 AM • permalinkHmmm… so many Quran’ic options, frollickingmole…
Oh and thanks to Tim for displaying the bigbrassy shiny ones he keeps tucked away…
Posted by thefrollickingmole on 2006 02 05 at 10:33 AM • permalinkGood shot, Tim. A lot of Muslims need to pull their head out of their arse, this particular cleric among them.
Posted by The_Real_JeffS on 2006 02 05 at 11:33 AM • permalinkSheik Fehmi El-Imam, the general secretary of the Board of Imams of Victoria, warned reprinting the cartoons here could “disturb people who can do things that we don’t want them to do”.
Just as Shakin’ Fehmi’s warnings disturb me and make me want to do things that he wouldn’t want me to do. Bring it on.
Posted by Jim Geones on 2006 02 05 at 11:34 AM • permalinkAussie school children cast judgement on Muslims
"the findings showed a need for educators to develop new ways of promoting multiculturalism among children."
That’s right, it’s got nothing to do with Muslims needing to stop threatening to kill infidels.Well done, Tim. I only wish that the craven media admit their abject cowardice and do the same. How can NBC execs do anything but hang their heads in shame? I can see being against the war, but isn’t free speech supposed to be their special issue, the reason they try to bring down presidents and reveal national defense secrets and reprint photos of Abu Ghraib over and over again?
I hope I live long enough to see them disgraced before the world. I hate to think, though, of how high the cost of that moment will be.
Suddenly it seems as if we are living in one of the less pleasant parts of “The Lord of the Rings” - our culture and civiliztion are being pushed to the point where the only possible defence is some form of attack.
Posted by Susan Norton on 2006 02 05 at 11:54 AM • permalinkThanks, Tim. We needed that. IMHO, we can’t have enough of this satire. My only fear is that we get bored with it before it has any real effect. OTOH maybe the muzzies will get bored with it as well, and we’ll all be better off. Let’s flood the airwaves with stuff Mo’s followers might take offense to. Git cher red hot offense of the day right here! Go seethe and burn your neighbor’s car or his business, rape and stone your sisters, man what fun. Go ahead and toss a couple of nukes around, then see what hell is really like. We’ll do some things you really don’t want us to do.
I haven’t the talent to do it. But it seems to me one of the things we need now - not the only one, by any means - is Artists who can inspire the West. Someone to give us some good songs, pictures, images to make us proud of our civilization and willing to defend it. I don’t mean satire, I mean strength and celebration - like the British soldiers singing “Men of Harlech” in “Zulu” before the attack.
Posted by Susan Norton on 2006 02 05 at 12:06 PM • permalink"In some parts of the world there is rioting against the Danish and the Dutch, we don’t want that in Australia,” the sheik said today.
So, the sheik is admitting that Australian Muslims would go on a bloody rampage if the cartoons are published in Australian papers (incidentally, good for you, Tim!). Why doesn’t he just come out and say in plain words: “We’re a bunch of uncontrollable savages who can’t abide by the rules of a civilized society.” Because that is certainly what he implies.
#1 bc
"A beautiful town you have here, Lord Mayor, with your fancy Opera House and lovely Harbor Bridge. I’t be such a shame if somethin’ was to happen to it..."
Great post, Tim!
Posted by Spiny Norman on 2006 02 05 at 01:23 PM • permalinkFirstly- congrats Tim for not avoiding solidarity towards our LURPAK producing bros overseas.
Secondly -read IBN WARRAQ in today’s Australian
‘Unless we show some solidarity, unashamed, noisy, public solidarity with the Danish cartoonists, then the forces that are trying to impose on the free West a totalitarian ideology will have won; the Islamisation of Europe will have begun in earnest.’ As I said two days ago these event are a watershed in our struggle against our attackers.Thirdly- make a note of the leftist arguments to justify the mayhem being caused worldwide by Muslims in response to the cartoons.
what is coming through to the surface is that Muslims coming from non democratic Backgrounds cannot be held accountable for the detritus they print on an almost daily basis regarding Jews and Christians too. Cartoons that outclass even those of ‘der Sturmer’ in the thirties.
Yet we must be held to different standards because of our democracy.
Most of the left wing intellects making those arguments are of course only too pleased to chip away at the democracy they use to excuse the mayhem.
But what comes through is nothing short of racism ,IE- primeval barbarians cannot be held accountable to the same standards as us intellectual folk from civilised countries.From one of the PJ Media ‘agents’
Depictions of Mohammed Throughout History
Controversy over the publication of images depicting Mohammed in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten has erupted into an international furor. While Muslims worldwide are calling for a boycott of Denmark and any other nation whose press reprints the cartoons, Europeans are trying to stand up for Western principles of freedom of speech and not cave in to self-censorship in the name of multiculturalism and fear.
While the debate rages, an important point has been overlooked: despite the Islamic prohibition against depicting Mohammed under any circumstances, hundreds of paintings, drawings and other images of Mohammed have been created over the centuries, with nary a word of complaint from the Muslim world. The recent cartoons in Jyllands-Posten are nothing new; it’s just that no other images of Mohammed have ever been so widely publicized.
This page is an archive of numerous depictions of Mohammed, to serve as a reminder that such imagery has been part of Western and Islamic culture since the Middle Ages—and to serve as a resource for those interested in freedom of expression.
via
It’s all bullshit Islamists.
There is one danger here: once Europe realizes Islam is a totalitarian movement and not a religious one, they’ll embrace it out of force of habit....
Posted by richard mcenroe on 2006 02 05 at 04:28 PM • permalinkCongratulations Tim.
We have had a composite image of the cartoons on our site since the weekend linked to one of the other sites carrying the full images.
Achillea, all you have to do to get the files is right click on each of Tim’s images above and select ‘save picture as’. Blogger makes it simple to upload images but you may wish to try flickr.com to store multiple images.
-- Nick and Nora
Posted by The Thin Man Returns on 2006 02 05 at 04:44 PM • permalink#24. Actually, the Sheik is correct. We don’t want rioting against the Dutch and Danish here in Australia.
Posted by Nilknarf Arbed on 2006 02 05 at 05:01 PM • permalinkExcellent Tim. Geez I thought I was up late enough last night but I missed this posting. Huh - I was probably too overcome with watching the cricket. Either that or too much red.
But well done! Say what are the odds that Fairfax in Australia will follow their NZ stablemate and publish the cartoons here?
I am with the sheik on this one. Anyone who suggests that Islam is anything but a religion of peace deserves whatever rioting or burning of buildings comes their way.
Posted by Margos Maid on 2006 02 05 at 05:25 PM • permalinkMore cartoons from the Nederlands. BTW, may I gently remind everyone that it’s time to oil up the equipment?
Is this really Mo? If depictions of the beloved Profit are banned, how the hell do they know what he looks like? An old guy with a beard and a turban? That could be Ibn Humpn Camlz, the local beggar, for all they know.
The only clue to his real visage must have been the explosive turban. That’s what set this whole thing off.
Never! You submit to ME-- cough—I mean to Tim Blair, leader of the Right Wing Death Beasts!
Posted by Andrea Harris, Administrator on 2006 02 05 at 05:53 PM • permalinkThe meaning of #46 seems pretty clear to me.
Has anyone ever seen Andrea and Tim in the same room at the same time?
This comes as no surprise to me since Margo used to keep a whole drawer full of “Mungo” beards.
Posted by Margos Maid on 2006 02 05 at 06:14 PM • permalinkUshie #34 - I agree, very bland. Thinking back to the final scene of Life Of Brian, by comparison…
Telling suicide bombers that Heaven has run out of virgins would be a spanner in the recruiting programme, though.Posted by SwinishCapitalist on 2006 02 05 at 06:17 PM • permalinkIt appears that the original 12 cartoons were added to by Muslim Fascists in the ME to promotote the controversy. see here for the links
http://weekbyweek7.blogspot.com/2006/02/mohammed-cartoons-deliberate.html#links
Posted by WeekByWeek on 2006 02 05 at 06:18 PM • permalinkDenmark! Even if you were overcome with a sudden urge to burn the Danish flag, where do you get one in a hurry in Gaza?
Mark Steyn’s question gave me an idea for a new startup business.
It would be supplying highly flammable flags of the infidel country du jour, to the inflammable hords of offended muslims. This would save them from the trouble of soaking flags in a dangerous accelerant before doing their monkey dance with the immolated flag.
I just need a name for the company, and a advertising slogan. And a venture capitalist. The market is already there!
And growing at a good rate.Cartoon Comps are starting all over this internet
Allu Akbar what is the world coming to?
Posted by knuckleheadwatch on 2006 02 05 at 06:53 PM • permalinkThe theory is supposed to be that you don’t break the law because a. you respect it and b. if you do so you will be punished. This gets watered down when you say “oh but this particular law breaker never had a chance, for the following reasons....” and is therefore innocent.
You follow this line of reasoning and you get to where we are now: we are making the rules to suit the possibly criminal. So we make it a rule not to show the cartoons so that Islamic extremists have no reason to break the law and riot.
It’s not about cartoons its about weak minds.
Courtesy of
the Purveyor.we regret
You are Jewish and so you are marked for death.
You are Christian and so you are marked for death.
You are an infidel or atheist and so you are marked for
death.
You are American and so you are marked for death.
You are Western European and so you are marked for death.
You are Australian and so you are marked for death.
You are a homosexual and so you are marked for death.
You are Salman Rushdie and so you are marked for death.
You are a Danish cartoonist and so you are marked for death.
You are a member of the European press who has reproduced
offensive Danish cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad and so
(you guessed it) you are marked for death.
You are the rare and brave Muslim who has vocalized serious
reservations about coreligionists who demonize Jews and the
West, derogate other religions, praise anger as the noblest
of all emotions, position victimhood as the ultimate
dignity, choose violence as the tactic of first resort, and
blame others for all the ills of society, and so you, too,
are marked for death.
Posted by Torontosteve on 2006 02 05 at 07:07 PM • permalinkrinardman, Flammflags. “Burn the flags of the infidels to give them a foretaste of Hell. Ignition guaranteed. Full satisfaction or we give you a new book of matches.” I can’t help you with the venture capital, sorry.
Given that Aussies are subjects of ‘er Majesty and Sheik El-Imam is threatening violence if Aussies don’t dhimmify themselves, I am reminded of a line (suitably amended) from “Bonnie Dundee”: Ere the Queen’s crown go down there are crowns to be broke.” If the Muslims in Oz want to riot over trivia, if they insist their prejudices and crankiness must be law under threats of death and violence, then it’s time for some Muslim crowns to be broken. You want a rumble Sheik? I’m sure there are Aussies who will accomodate you and yor crazed followers. And the Government should stomp hard on any Muslims starting violence.
This whole fracas is Muslims trying it on, attempting to force people in the West to conform to the standards and bigotry of the militant Islamist radicals. If they get away with this, what will be their next demand, chador? We must resist this stuff now, for it will only get worse if we surrender.
Posted by Michael Lonie on 2006 02 05 at 07:18 PM • permalinkGo back and read the thread murph, I did some research clicked on a few links that you guys priovided, changed my mind, and retracted, If anyone is still upset I apologise.
Posted by knuckleheadwatch on 2006 02 05 at 07:32 PM • permalink58. kae, I think it’s great the way muslims are exercising their freedom of speech to protest at our complete disregard for their sensibilities.
Democracy in action.!
Posted by Nilknarf Arbed on 2006 02 05 at 07:51 PM • permalink#67. BSG is okay, was not rude or threatening in presenting his (her?) original opinion.
Incidentally, I went followed that link. Interesting that the site invites you to leave a comment on their cartoon, but wants your phone number (so they can track you down and blow your house up?). I tried it. The comment takes without the personal information.
rinardman, PW — I found your flag suppplier
Posted by richard mcenroe on 2006 02 05 at 08:31 PM • permalinkI am having some trouble comprehending that otherwise rational commentators are castigating the Danish newspaper cartoonists and pretending that we are not having a clash of civilizations. We ARE involved in a clash of civilizations – the West is at war, like it or not, with radical Islam, Islamonazis. The parallel between the rise of “modern” Islamofascism and that of the Nazis has limitations but also parallels. Not all the Germans were Nazis, but paid the price. Not all Muslims are terrorist barbarians, but unless they wish to share the fate of “good Germans” they best tumble to the fact that MYOB (mind your own business) is a far more prudent path than yowling about what citizens of a sovereign nation do within their own borders. We often take our freedoms lightly and assume they entail no obligations, but we do take our freedoms seriously when some 7’th century Islamonazi starts yowling about defaming Islam and killing us in retribution. This includes their nominally 20’th century governments. Go bark at the moon.
I defend without apology the right of the Danish cartoonists to mock Mohammed and defame Islam, frankly because there is much that is despicable about both. The Danes have had it up to their eyeballs with unassimilated islamonitwits pushing their fascist agenda and frankly pissing on their host nation’s carpet. From what I am reading here Australia is of like mind.
The Newspaper cartoons were pretty tame stuff compared to this - for a real hoot take a look at http://retecool.com/comments.php?id=13539_0_1_0_C (purloined from http://www.nicedoggie.net/2006/ ) Yes, it is over the top, and yes, it is funny as hell. But I will be damned if any foreign national, or immigrant is going to tell me I can’t create it or laugh at it. In an Islamic country that’s a different matter. The Torah was highly offensive to the Nazis should we have suppressed it to assuage their sensibilities? How many Christian churches are there in Saudi?
The Cartoons neither hurt nor helped Jordan or Syria as Hugh Hewitt argues in Weekend ’Toons Part II http://www.hughhewitt.com/ It helps show the apathetic west exactly how foreign our enemies are and how dangerous. Al Qaeda and the other Islamonazis would love the West to make war on Islam, and in a limited sense we will – on the virulent strains and those that support them. Most Muslims have as well developed sense of self preservation as anyone else. Islam is riven by faction and sectarian conflict. It is not likely we face war with all.
The MSM is by and large SCUM. They may as well be on the Al Qaeda payroll. They kiss-ass the Islamonazis and castigate the west for its sins. These same jackals fabricated a story about US soldiers at Gitmo flushing Korans down a toilet. The story was an absolute lie – byline bin Laden. This I most strenuously object to. Those who wrote it should be prosecuted criminally and bankrupted civilly to compensate THEIR victims. They caused the deaths of several “infidels.”
I could not give a fig less what Islam thinks. I care a great deal about what they do. The only knowledge I require of Islam is to “know your enemy” and any friends we may have. Best advice to them? MYOB.
Sooner or later these nutjobs are going to acquire a nuke and likely use it, either on America or Israel. Israel will solve Islam’s population problem for a millennium. It will probably take something this horrific to unite the US behind the war on terror, rather than leave it hamstrung by partisan politics and treasonous politicians groveling before terrorists.
Right now one of my favorite fantasies is a certain loudmouthed Wahabi Mullah in Saudi Arabia growing a third eye from a .308 bullet. I have had enough of these damned people.
Not that I care what’s what, sensibility-wise, but how come none of them are funny? Well, they ARE Leunig funny, but that’s about it.
And don’t gimme none o’ that “Lost in translation” bizniss! I guess Arabic and Danish as well as the next Aussie.
Posted by Tony.T.Teacher on 2006 02 05 at 09:01 PM • permalinkmarkmc — Easy there, sparky. Next thing you know, you’ll be Questioning Their Patriotism if you’re not careful…
Posted by richard mcenroe on 2006 02 05 at 09:13 PM • permalinkIslamist scum need to lie in pig shit along with the leftist that support them.
Posted by swassociates on 2006 02 05 at 09:39 PM • permalink#77 I think the one about being out of virgins is pretty funny. The others??
Posted by Villeurbanne on 2006 02 05 at 09:50 PM • permalink52, 55, 59, 65, & 72:
Could you make ‘em with, like, white phosphorous staffs? And/or with det-cord trim around the edges?Posted by Stoop Davy Dave on 2006 02 05 at 10:14 PM • permalinkSomething very curious here:
The Australian appears to have lifted a piece on the history of Mohammed illustrations almost verbatim off of LGF operative “zombie"s website.
Heh™.
Posted by Spiny Norman on 2006 02 05 at 10:15 PM • permalinkbut wait, there’s more! http://drawmohammed.com/
Speaking of curious things to note: even with everything going on, we still manage to have a laugh about it all.
I know muslims are supposed to have a sense of humour, but it seems to be hiding.
Posted by Nilknarf Arbed on 2006 02 05 at 10:38 PM • permalinkYou know the thought just occurred, coz i read a comment from Kevin Rudd that in relation to these cartoons Australia shouldn’t allow itself to be stood over or intimidated by anyone, i wonder if a politician with a set of balls could come out and say that if all (or a majority) of the mainstream newspapers refuse to publish these cartoons, if they are setting a new benchmark in terms of not wanting to offend against certain people’s religious beliefs, that a law should be passed by the government banning all such offensive images or remarks, against all religions????
We won’t leave it to the newspaper, television and magazine editors to decide what they will and won’t censor, who they will and won’t offend, letting them feel free to continue to offend the masses but protect the few… they either decide if they really want freedom of the press in this land and they publish what all the furore is about, or else the government will impose a blanket ban against religious vilification, with large fines and/or jail sentences against any religious offence…
The publishers and ediotrs can then either come out and defend their cowardice on this occasion and explain why a few mainacs whould get special treatment now and in the future, or they can sacrifice their precious press freedoms which they claim to hold sacrosanct… it will stop their hypocricy dead in it tracks????
I wonder if any pollie would have the balls to even suggest it to the media and see what the media reaction would be??? i wonder how the media outlets could defend their current actions????
A Canberran sells a non-existing Auckland riot to The Australian:
On Feb 5, 2006 “OneNews” reports that the 700 strong crowd of NZ Muslems in Auckland "reached Aotea Square a small scuffle broke out and police held one man back from the crowd, but apart from that the protest was peaceful".
On Feb 6, 2006 “The Australian” publishes (without verification) a claim that “ANTI-Muslim cartoons, which sparked riots in New Zealand and Denmark, would fuel similar outrage in Australia."
And at news.com.au
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18054076-29277,00.html
Now you’ve done it Blair… ;)
Posted by Quentin George on 2006 02 05 at 10:49 PM • permalinkStoop Davy Dave —
Magnesium staff with WP core, $24.95AUS extra
Nitrocellulose flag fabric, $11.95AUS extra
Watching them try to put it out by stamping on it — Priceless.Posted by richard mcenroe on 2006 02 05 at 10:51 PM • permalinkWell, you’ve made it to the Herald.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/blog-hits-back-over-cartoons/2006/02/06/1139074147958.html
Funny, I could have sworn you and your cheer squad were lining up to metaphorically bury Leunig a few weeks ago, and all because of a little cartoon he did. So it’s Leunig good, Danes bad?
Posted by gra_factor on 2006 02 05 at 10:59 PM • permalinkIts a pity none of the buggers robes don’t ever catch on fire… i keep watching and hoping during their stupid demonstrations… but nope, never happens....
maybe from centuries of experience of this type of retarded beaviour they have developed some sort of fire retardent material to use in their outfits....
richard mcenroe
As part of the kit how about some nice shiny polyester, hooded tracksuits. You know, the sort that go sticky and black when burning?Posted by thefrollickingmole on 2006 02 05 at 11:10 PM • permalinkGreat post Tim. This is just an example of the type of work product you publish on this blog. And why you have many loyal persons who come here every day and leave comments.
Posted by wronwright on 2006 02 05 at 11:19 PM • permalink#98, not suggesting you did, and I’m not suggesting that burning embassies is a legitmate form of protest. I was talking about the publication of cartoons that a group of people find offensive. Jyllands-Posten are heroes of free speech and Leunig/Age is a bag of asses. Sorry to introduce an oppositional note into all this ra-ra.
Posted by gra_factor on 2006 02 05 at 11:22 PM • permalinkThis in the SMH amazes me:
The editor of the Daily Telegraph, David Penberthy, has told ABC radio publishing the images could have nasty consequences, especially given racial tensions in Sydney.
And just who is responsible for these tensions? The people involved in incidents in Maroubra/Lakemba/Bondi, the idiots who beat a man to death in Auburn two days ago, or the average person in the street?
#100 - Lenuig is entitled to draw what he wants. This does not mean that he is exempt from criticism. Similarly, Jyllands-Posten are not exempt from criticism.
The difference, however, is that Leunig was not threatened, The Age editorial building was not razed and his colleagues were not attacked. And if they were, then Tim and his regulars would condemn such actions.
I guess it shows on one level how inconsequential blogging is that Tim publishing the cartoons has caused bugger all uproar. And I don’t mean that to be an insult.
I find this to be a difficult area. There seem to be two issues: 1) Subject matter - i.e. the depiction of Mohammed. 2) Intent.
I found a couple of the pictures to be funny, a few incomprehensible, and others vindictive.
What seems to be the problem with some extremists is 1, which is based on a superstitious belief, as are all religions. I have a problem with 2.
In other words, anything is fair game so long as its funny. There should never have been this reaction, but there should never have been the intent to stir up hatred.
What were your motives for publishing the cartoons Tim?
It’s also made the ninemsn site:
Australian website publishes cartoons
Posted by Art Vandelay on 2006 02 06 at 12:59 AM • permalinkSo it seems that the Pope can take a joke and Muhammed can’t—the Pope seems to have a sense of humour—now I have seen everything.
As our left-wing cousins would say, solidarity, comrade! Tim, I wholly support your decision to re-print the cartoons.
#70, the Jyllands-Posten editorial reads, in part:
The modern, secular society is rejected by some Muslims. They demand a special position, insisting on special consideration of their own religious feelings. It is incompatible with contemporary democracy and freedom of speech, where you must be ready to put up with insults, mockery and ridicule. It is certainly not always equally attractive and nice to look at, and it does not mean that religious feelings should be made fun of at any price, but that is less important in this context. [...] we are on our way to a slippery slope where no-one can tell how the self-censorship will end. That is why Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten has invited members of the Danish editorial cartoonists union to draw Muhammad as they see him. [...]
You can also read one of their follow-up editorials here
Reuters’ current story contains about equal parts moderate Muslim voices disparaging the violence, one reason given being that it’s bad for Islam’s image. No sh*t, Sherlock.
Concern over what’s bad for your image is one step towards internalizing civilization, and not to be put down as superficial.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/05/AR2006020500259.html
I showed the cartoons to the people at work here (they’d not seen them before).
Overwhelmingly the reaction has been “this is what they’ve been rioting over?”
And flutee, that’s the reason Tim (amongst others, Nicky and I included) have published these cartoons. It is an active demonstration of the ridiculousness of this Islamic custom.
BTW The Taliban banned images of anything - no personal photographs, no paintings, no art - on the belief that depictions of anything was idolatrous.
Banning the depictions of Muhammed today, the burning of the Sistine Chapel tomorrow.
-- Nora
Posted by The Thin Man Returns on 2006 02 06 at 01:34 AM • permalink#111- I want! I want! I want! WAHHH!!11!!
Posted by Lucky Nutsacks on 2006 02 06 at 02:34 AM • permalinkI want to hear Tim’s reasons from Tim if it’s all the same.
Why must he be answerable to you, flutee? Try reading his previous entries on this subject. Maybe if you had actually been paying any attention to this blog over the last few days, it would be obvious.
Why is it the self-indulgent trolls find it necessary to insist on a personal response to each and every one of their petulant demands?
Posted by Spiny Norman on 2006 02 06 at 02:37 AM • permalinkI read through the blog they had on this issue at The Age, i was surprised by how many posts there made perfect sense in terms of sticking up for the right of these cartoons to be printed, and condemning the muslim’s over reaction… i thought The Age readers were mostly dyed in the wool lefty moonbats (and admittedly some of the posts made u shake your head at the stupidity of some people...) Perhaps many people only post in these types of blogs and have their say on issues, but don’t buy the hardcopy of The Age and support the Fairfax organisation with their hard earned money???
But one post particularly summed up the stupidity and cowardice of these dingbats…
I agree whole-heartedly with Sam. The image of Muhammad is sacred to Muslims and this should be respected. Free speech is a right, but not the right to offend. No one should take the piss and provoke entire communities while under the ‘free speech’ banner, or it may be taken away eventually. Let’s not abuse our right to speak freely.
Posted by: Luke at February 6, 2006 10:03 AMNot much of a freedom if in using it u lose it, dopes!!!! i wonder if the concocted, contrived story about Bush’s service record in the Air National Guard would illicit the same response???
And thanks Rich, pity a few more of ‘em don’t get their overgrown, vermin-infested beards singed(???) by their stupid activities… :o)
I don’t think you’re in any position to criticise anyone else for “stirring up hatred”, flutee.
Your own cartoons and blog posts are full of hatred, and targeted both at groups and individuals. So take that log out of your own eye before you go looking for splinters in others’.
Posted by Evil Pundit on 2006 02 06 at 02:47 AM • permalinkDraw Mohammad I think the genie might be out of the bottle!
Posted by Nilknarf Arbed on 2006 02 06 at 02:55 AM • permalinkFree speech does require people who have that liberty to think before speaking.
Moreover, it is designed to be a free and frank sharing of ideas with the goal of increasing our understanding of the world at large.
Publishing these cartoons, while undoubtedly offensive to Muslims, is important because it give us non-Muslims a voice, of sorts, to help explain why half of Australian school children, for example believe Muslims are terrorists.
The correct response in a free society is for the ‘other side’ to use logic, reason and (heaven forbid) perhaps even humour to present their point of view. We are then equally free to agree or disagree.
The problem is we don’t get that. Instead from the visible face of the Muslim community we confronted with irrational emotion, violence and hate.
-- Nora
Posted by The Thin Man Returns on 2006 02 06 at 03:05 AM • permalinkAnd I see that in that great Bastion of Religious Freedom, the Police State of Victoria, the Police Commissioner (God Bless her little cotton socks) has decreed that Publication of blasphemous cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed in Victorian newspapers could damage community relations.
Oh dear, could some peoples sensibilities be disturbed. So in this State with its new Religious Anti-vilification laws, would this mean that the police would have to arrest rioting Muslims?
Maybe she should mobilise her cohorts from the Victorian Equal Opportunities Commission to be ready? They surely could find a way at diverting attention elsewhere to invent some other complaint.
The MSM in Australia is making use,in a cowardly way, of Tim’s web site to air views that they are afraid to print. By referring to the third party publication on this website they can claim they can say that they never published the cartoons, if they are attacked by the Muslim community.
Jeez where’s the old digger mentality gone!
I expect a hyperspace overload as readers flock to see what the fuss is about.Your own cartoons and blog posts are full of hatred.
Excellent point Evil Pundit.
Flutee I find your religious ‘satire’ on
December 15, November 30, October 28, August 15, July 7, July 4, April 24, April 20, April 10, April 3, February 3, to be highly offensive.What were your motives for publishing the cartoons Flutee?
I want to hear Flutee’s reasons from Flutee if it’s all the same.
-- Nora
Posted by The Thin Man Returns on 2006 02 06 at 03:14 AM • permalink#125
The reason is the Muslim world has only just heard about them. To the rest of the world, the cartoons were old news in September.-- Nora
Posted by The Thin Man Returns on 2006 02 06 at 03:20 AM • permalinkGross over-reactions to everything little thing that is contrary to ones own beliefs or behaviours seems to be the order of the day. A few (harmless?) drawings and huge uproar and promises of bloody vengeance are the results - worldwide. It is unbelievable.
Freedom of speech is just that - the freedom to speak openly and without fear.
It is not only the Muslim world that would seek to curtail that freedom, although they seem to be the most strident in their opposition.
Many Christian groups sought to have the movie about Christ banned (I can’t remember what it was called - starred Mel Gibson) and some groups even went so far as to threaten violent demonstrations.
There seems to be a common thread of religion through many attempts to curtail free speech.So, when is someone going to torch Tim’s embassy?
Posted by Tony.T.Teacher on 2006 02 06 at 03:22 AM • permalink#100 G’day gra_factor - you seem to be displaying an inability to understand certain distinctions.
Leunig had some offensive cartoons published - that was an exercise of his freedom of speech. Many posters here made comments critical of Leunig - that was an exercise of their freedom of speech. Freedom of speech is a good thing.
Criticising Leunig does not infringe his freedom of speech.
Various people have posted images of Mohammed - this is an exercise of free speech. Various muslims have threatened to kill them and some have even burnt down embassies in various parts of the world - this is not an exercise of freedom of speech - this represents assault, menaces, violence and, in the case of the embassy burnings, an act of war.
Freedom of speech - good(!!!!).
Assault, menaces, violence and acts of war very bad(!!!!).
The difference between the good thing (Freedom of speech - yay!!!) and the bad things (Assault, menaces, violence, act of war - boo!!!!) seems to be hard for you to appreciate - maybe you could see it if you stood back a bit and squinted.
Janet
the Da Vinci code is highly offensive to many Roman Catholics.
The Mel Gibson Film Is highly offensive to many jews.
The der Sturmer cartoons published almost daily by the Arab press are highly offensive to all non Muslims.
the blowing up of the Bhamiyan Buddhas is highly offensive to Many Buddhists.
Have any of these groups set fire to embassies and threatened the authors with death ? are the perpetratotrs in hiding under armed protection?And in this whole furor, it seems to me that people are explicitly saying that if you don’t want to be offended, just threaten to react violently and the MSM and others will pay you the respect of giving u a wide berth....
the christians have had all sorts of crap thrown at them and they don’t over react so its fine to keep doing… the muslim’s take their religion much more seriously than we do in the West, and threaten to flip their wig at the slightest offence, and so we really should be knowledgeable enough to know not to interfere or insult them…
It looks like it pays to be easily aroused to violence and the MSM will respect that....
I agree Davo, right of reply is a form of free speech, threats of violent reprisals are not. Whether they result in the “offender” cowering under the bed or not. It seems to be a matter of degrees of intolerance to free speech.
And I don’t think I would go so far as to call the destruction of the Bhamiyan Buddhas an act of free speech - I think provocation might be a bit closer to the mark.’and so we really should be knowledgeable enough to know not to interfere or insult them’
that is rubbish casanova and you know it.
There a re plenty of christians and jews who are highly offended by Islamic insults to their religions.
Insults that are far far worse than the cartoons above .
The difference is that these religions are not supremacist religious cults that insist on dishing out aggression and calling any form of defence racist.
Appeasing Islam is a grave mistake when it is unwarranted, and will ultimately put western civilisation on the road to perdition.Good on you, Tim Blair. It’s about time someone posted these illustrations on the Internet. But I must say, the ones you posted don’t look all that bad. I can’t understand anyone getting upset by them. Shame on them. They should just go and take a cold shower and get on with their lives.
Posted by Happy Antipodean on 2006 02 06 at 03:48 AM • permalinkMilitant Islamists fail to recognise that freedom of expression protects them from persecution for what we might consider offensive behavior.
Living by the creed ‘if you offend me,I will kill you’ is a religion of hate. To single out any particular subject for exclusion from caricature or criticism is totalitarian censorship.
Islam does not, and will not hold a monopoly as a target for caricatature, past or present; why the positive discrimination in the form of bans?
Militant Islam is nothing more than a perversion of Islam and it should expect any criticism generated.
#127 - ‘Many Christian groups’ burned flags and diplomatic offices?
Get a grip - freak.Posted by Lucky Nutsacks on 2006 02 06 at 03:52 AM • permalink130. They were queueing up to see it, of course.
Regarding the cartoons, I had a bit of a chat with one of the rellos today and got told that they should never have been published in the first place.
The rationale, of course, was that whomever published them was asking for a kicking and should have known better.
I did ask if we should stop printing things that offend one segment of society, and got told yes!!
Looks like he’s on my list for Robert Spencer’s books.
Posted by Nilknarf Arbed on 2006 02 06 at 03:58 AM • permalinkAny Queenslanders seen today’s CourierMail? According to the nooz tonight, CM published one of the cartoons today. I’ve looked on the website, but can’t find it.
I see Keysar and Ameer were out in full force today decrying the backlash against muslims and the gross offense of publishing anything resembling a picture of Mohammed.
Swat Womble (I love that name, but can someone please tell me why??) spoke in favour of freedom of speech and left it up to the meeja.
Posted by Nilknarf Arbed on 2006 02 06 at 04:09 AM • permalinkHi Nilk. It was in Saturday’s Courier Mail, not today’s. I don’t have a copy but I think I’ll be able to lay my hands on one tomorrow. If I can I’ll send a JPG to our site.
-- Nora
Posted by The Thin Man Returns on 2006 02 06 at 04:13 AM • permalink(1) Did you see Christopher Hitchens last night on CNN tearing into a pompous booby who was rationalising Islamist thuggery and intolerance? Wonderful.
(2) Can we declare a ban on being ‘offended’? Free societies are robust places where opinions should be put to the test. The fact that I am ‘offended’ often shows that my opponent has touched a sore spot I would rather not admit to. It is a word used by ninnies who have given up on argument and rational discussion and want to trump opponents with tantrums.
(3) Some have declared they will not publish what is offensive to Muslims but one feels that the real reason for their ‘sensitivity’ is only the most ignoble fear. If not, why are they less squeamish about publishing what is offensive to Jews and Christians - and stuff which is far more pungent than these anaemic Mohammad cartoons?
#146 - ‘whilst’- That’s a word you dont hear too often nowadays. You vote National Party right?
Posted by Lucky Nutsacks on 2006 02 06 at 04:18 AM • permalinkI wonder if our MSM won’t show the cartoons in question, to put some context to the hypocrisy of the mussies, is it reasonably simple to collect a whole swag of the types of images THEY run against the jews and the West???
or do most of these newspapers in the arab world not have internet editions, do u have to get hard copies of them??? it would at least be interesting if the MSM would say “you’ve been hearing a lot lately about cartoons considered offensive to our Middle Eastern cousins, now here’s a selection from their papers and school text books etc, etc, etc… U be the judge of who is routinely being intolerant, inflammatory etc”
Found a translation of the text in the cartoons:
•An abstract drawing of crescent moons and Stars of David, and a poem on oppression of women “Profet! Med kuk og knald i låget som holder kvinder under åget!”. In English the poem could be read as: “Prophet you crazy bloke! Keeping women under yoke”•Two angry Muslims charge forward with sabres and bombs, while Muhammad addresses them with: “Rolig, venner, når alt kommer til alt er det jo bare en tegning lavet af en vantro sønderjyde” (loosely, “Relax guys, it’s just a drawing made by some infidel South Jutlander”. The reference is to a common Danish expression for a person from the middle of nowhere.)
•An Arab-looking boy in front of a blackboard, pointing to the Farsi chalkings, which translate into “The editorial team of Jyllands-Posten is a bunch of reactionary provocateurs”. The boy is labelled “Mohammed, Valby school, 7.A”, implying that this Muhammed is a second-generation immigrant to Denmark rather than the founder of Islam. On his shirt is written “Fremtiden” (the future).
•Muhammad standing on a cloud, greeting dead suicide bombers with “Stop Stop vi er løbet tør for Jomfruer!” ("Stop, stop, we have run out of virgins!"), an allusion to the promised reward to martyrs.
•Another shows journalist Kåre Bluitgen, wearing a turban with the proverbial orange dropping into it, with the inscription “Publicity stunt”. In his hand is a child’s stick drawing of Muhammad, referring to Bluitgens upcoming illustrated children’s book on the life of The Prophet. The proverb “an orange in the turban” is a Danish expression meaning “a stroke of luck”, here the added publicity for the book.
•A police line-up of seven people, with the witness saying: “Hm… jeg kan ikke lige genkende ham” ("Hm… I can’t really recognise him"). Not all people in the line-up are immediately identifiable. They are: (1) A generic Hippie, (2) politician Pia Kjærsgaard, (3) possibly Jesus, (4) possibly Buddha, (5) possibly Muhammad, (6) a generic Indian Guru, and (7) journalist Kåre Bluitgen, carrying a sign saying: “Kåres PR, ring og få et tilbud” ("Kåre’s public relations, call and get an offer")
I’m pleased to see that such an atmosphere of free speech has been created.
Mr Blair, you may have heard of Palestinian cartoonist, Omayya Joha. She has been drawing for many years, however, has never reached an audience of any note due to the proclamation by Israeli authorities that her cartoons are anti-Semitic.
I’m trusting that Mr. Blair will see fit to reproduce her cartoons here?
No doubt, there will be some resistance from various groups, however, I’m sure that Mr. Blair’s enthusiasm for free speech will transcend these protests, as clearly his motives are free speech rather than deliberate provocation.
I’ll look forward to seeing these images posted shortly.
Gustov
Posted by gustov_deleft on 2006 02 06 at 04:33 AM • permalinkGustov,
The Omayya can find her own media outlets and appreciative audience.Better still shouldn’t she be barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen? What’s she doing working?
Although I suppose she could work from home where no man can look at her… Does her husband approve?
-- Nora
Posted by The Thin Man Returns on 2006 02 06 at 04:37 AM • permalinkThere is one way to get these things on the news. Possibly there’s even a term for this now - they’ve been occasions where important people have fronted the courts and people have gotten in close with their placard or whatever, I think even Crazy John style mascots have tried this, and in doing so get themselves in the footage that the news cameramen capture. I believe this happened when Vizard fronted the courts over his investments. Throw on the standard Islamofacist face scarf if you want to remain anonymous.
(I’m using work as an excuse to hand-ball that one to some other more ballsy crusader)
#154 - I fish and shoot and I vote -
p.s - the cartoons arent offensive.
byePosted by Lucky Nutsacks on 2006 02 06 at 04:42 AM • permalink
Sheik Fehmi El-Imam..."In some parts of the world there is rioting against the Danish and the Dutch, we don’t want that in Australia,” the sheik said today.
How many tanks you got here, Colonel? Too bad if one had an ... accident.
Wow, is the sheik related to
Doug and Dinsdale Piranha?