Malaysia Bans Muhammad Cartoons

The Malaysian government has slapped a blanket ban on distributing and possessing the cartoons of the prophet Muhammad that have sparked furor across the Muslim world.

It is now forbidden for anyone in the majority Muslim country to publish, import, produce, manufacture, circulate, distribute or possess the caricatures.

The offence may, according to a government statement, "jeopardize public harmony and safety, which may cause chaos, or endanger public peace or national interest".

Malaysia’s ban came a day after the government shut down a newspaper that printed one of the controversial cartoons.

Last Saturday, the Sarawak Tribune, a daily distributed in some parts of the Malaysian section of Borneo Island, printed one of the Danish drawings to illustrate an article about the lack of controversy over the cartoons in Malaysia. It is unclear which of the 12 Danish drawings was used.

The next day, the newspaper apologized in a front page statement. The editor in charge also apologized and resigned. Earlier this week, police in Sarawak started interviewing senior editorial staff to determine if criminal charges will be brought.