As hackers attack Danish Web sites over the controversy over the cartoons of Muhammed and some cartoons are shown to be a hoax, Iran makes plans to publish holocaust cartoons.
A news report says 800 Danish web sites have been hacked since the end of January. The controversy began after 12 images were printed in a Danish publication. Most of the messages left on the Web pages are hate speech or comments, including expletives, saying not to offend Muslims.
Not helping matters is that Imams have circulated offensive images which were not printed. Right wing bloggers are besides themselves over the matter.
Meanwhile, an important voice has spoken in the controversy about the
cartoons of Muhammed. Doonesbury" creator Garry Trudeau knows from controversies and censorship. Some of the 600 newspapers that carry his strip run it on the editorial page, a move intended to placate readers who say it is not funny. At least five times in the last decade some of those newspapers have refused to run his strips when they deem it to offensive. All this is to say, Trudeau knows what he is talking about when it comes to free speech discussion.
Trudeau says this is not about freedom of speech and expression. In the the San Francisco Chronicle Trudeau commented:
It's not censorship, it's editing. Just because a society has almost unlimited freedom of expression doesn't mean we should ever stop thinking about its consequences in the real world. Nor will I be using any imagery that mocks Jesus Christ. I may not agree with their reasons for dropping any particular strip, in fact, I usually don't, but I will defend their right and responsibility to delete material that they feel is inappropriate for their readership.
Iran does not share Trudeau's opposition to using imagery mocking a prophet of Jesus Christ, apparently. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Wednesday accused Iran and Syria of fanning the flames over the controversy. Indeed, Hamshahri, an Iranian newspaper, has announced it will hold a contest for the best cartoons about the Holocaust.
Does the West extend freedom of expression to the crimes committed by the United States and Israel, or an event such as the Holocaust? Or is its freedom only for insulting religious sanctities?
The BBC, like many other media organizations, vocalized a dilemma many newspapers are facing: whether to print the cartoons, or link to them online, in order to give the story context.
Article comments
1 - gracefulboomer
It be might helpful to go back to the source-
the Dane who started it all- KARE Bluitgen.
'KARE Bluitgen has just received a death threat. 'Wanted: dead or alive' said the placards showing the Dane's face borne by crowds in Thailand in the latest protest against the cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad.'- (cont.
Good article here, this is not the first time this author has had differences of opinion with Danish Imams.
The Children's Author Who Ignited A World-Wide Protest
2 - gracefulboomer
Scott, thank you for the links and commentary.
I knew I seen a web site which has documented where the hack attacks are coming from and posted specific information regarding them-couldn't find it for awhile but here is the link and I found it interesting. I really think this may add to your discussion.
This is the best site I have run across to track down origin, method, source, trackbacks
I hope this is helpful to you and your post. FYI
IMHO this site just rocks at times, sorry I can't get this to link directly.
You can view the actual archives of the instructions and hack attacks here.
3 - Scott Butki
Thanks, Grace.
Here is the direct link.
4 - gazelle
Thanks for a balanced and informative article.
Here I find that extending iran's "apparent" attitude of mockery of the holocaust to Jesus is just incorrect. Reason: Muslims revere Jesus, Moses and other prophets in the same way as Muhammad who is dearest to them (they are in the same camp or them). So it is inconcievable, a misperception, that Iran, or Muslims of any ilk, would mock them.I would like to correct a misperception regarding this para:
Otoh, ahmedinejad and others have mocked the holocaust, which is truly regrettable - a demagogic move. Their real grievance is with Israel's occupation of palestine, ejection of the people from their homes, their continuing denigration, as much as the US support for this injustice. This has turned out to be politics at its worst. [link]
best
5 - Aaman
Good report, this at least, is a non-violent form of protest:)
6 - Silas Kain
Boycott the Islamic countries who are reacting with violence against Denmark and the West. And, show your support for Denmark. Buy Danish products. Stock up on Danish Cheese.
7 - Scott Butki
Are we still boycotting the french from the
anti-france movement? if we keep boycotting other countries we're gonna get hungry
8 - hounddog
dear #7
Scott Butki
start boycotting the muslims and their wares (oil)
or are you living in a muslim country and are hungry, go to the social service in a western country and get some bread, or beg in a muslim country and get a kick in the butt
9 - Nancy
Actually, most of our oil comes from S. America &
Canada, not the middle east. But by all means, do support Denmark. I got me a nice chunk of Havarti & some Danish sardines yesterday.
10 - Scott Butki
Why blame a country (Denmark) for what a newspaper did?
Why blame an entire religion for what some protestors did? This overgeneralizing, overreacting makes little sense to me.
11 - Richard Brodie
Why blame a country (Denmark) for what a newspaper did?
Because the laws of that country, enshrining as they do the principle of Freedom of Speech, allowed that newspaper's actions.
Why blame an entire religion for what some protestors did?
Because the culture emanating from and intimately revolving around the Koranic teachings of that religion evidently fosters those protestor's actions.
12 - Silas Kain
Why blame a country (Denmark) for what a newspaper did?
Why? Because these radical extremist pigs who should be force fed pork until their stomachs burst have brought on the notion that an entire country should be blamed. Those Imams in Denmark who took part in this fueling of hatred in the Middle East should be refused re-entry into Denmark. Further, all assets of those congregations from which the Imams came should be frozen and paid out in reparations to anyone who has been a victim of this violence including Muslims themselves.
Why blame an entire religion for what some protestors did? This overgeneralizing, overreacting makes little sense to me.
Over generalizing? When was the last time anyone referred to Israel as a civil state? It's always been about religion first and race second. Where were the Jews when Islamic-inspired cartoons against Judaism and Jewish civil leaders were out there? Islamic radicals want it both ways. I say no more. You want to be a radical, then suffer the consequences.
13 - Scott Butki
Richard, you said:
"
Why blame an entire religion for what some protestors did?
Because the culture emanating from and intimately revolving around the Koranic teachings of that religion evidently fosters those protestor's actions."
So by that logic I should condemn Christianity because some Christian wackos bomb abortion clinics?
14 - Scott Butki
No response or just tired of debating the issue?