Danish Newspapers Reprint Muhammed Cartoon in Solidarity

By Anastacia Mott Austin

It was two years ago that Danish newspapers incited riots after printing inflammatory cartoons depicting the Muslim prophet Muhammed.

Against the outcry of the Muslim community, the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten invited cartoonists in January of 2006 to submit their cartoon ideas of what Muhammed looks like.

According to Islamic law, the prophet Muhammed should not be depicted in any way, because his image could lead followers to idolatry, which is opposed by the religion.

Mass protests broke out throughout Denmark, Syria, Lebanon, Iran, Afghanistan, and Libya.

The incident ignited a worldwide debate about free speech, Islam, and religious respect.

The re-printing of the most well known cartoon, showing Muhammed wearing a turban that contained a bomb, was motivated by the arrest this week of three people who admitted plotting to kill the original cartoonist, Kurt Westergaard. The murder plot was thwarted, and the three await trial.

But Danish newspapers decided to reprint the cartoon this week to show solidarity for Westergaard and to make a statement about free speech.

The newspaper Berlingske Tidende told (other newspaper’s) reporters, "We are doing this to document what is at stake in this case, and to unambiguously back and support the freedom of speech that we as a newspaper will always defend."

Anxious residents fearing a reprisal of the 2006 riots have so far been reassured by the fact that several of the extremist groups who initiated the rioting two years ago have disbanded.

"Many have learned lessons of what happened two years ago," said Helle Lykke Nielsen, an expert on the Middle East at the University of Southern Denmark. "Some of the key players in Denmark have disappeared. They are either dead, have left the country or have been demoted."

A representative of The Islamic Faith Community, the network of Islamic groups which started the protests before, says that there are no plans to retaliate for the printing. "[Although the printing] was like a knife in our hearts…we have no plans to travel abroad or export this problem," says Kasem Ahmad, speaking for the group. "Now we have decided to neglect and ignore any possible provocation."

But other experts on Islam remain cautious, and say that there is no way to gauge yet the worldwide reaction to the cartoons in the Muslim world. Some fear that revenge plans against cartoonist Westergaard will only increase now.

Muslim groups from around the world complain that the move by the newspapers is only meant to antagonize Muslims, provoking them intentionally. British Muslim Initiative representative Ihtisham Hibatullah spoke to reporters, complaining that, "Every time they say, ‘We have the right to offend,’ and then they tell you don't have the right to be offended."