Angry protest over prophet cartoons (again)

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Hundreds of angry students have staged a protest in front of the Danish embassy in Tehran to condemn the reprinting of cartoons deemed insulting to the Prophet Muhammad in Danish newspapers.

Some 300 foreign and Iranian students from Qom seminary schools chanted "Death to Denmark" and "Death to America", warning the Danes "not to follow the American anti-Islamic policy" and asking Islamic countries to boycott Danish products.

Naim Ahmad, a Bangladeshi student, said: "We have peacefully gathered to protest. It will not be so in future if Denmark continues insulting the prophet."

Some 10,000 foreign students, mostly from south Asian and African countries, take Islamic religious courses in Qom, south of the capital, Tehran.

The embassy was protected by dozens of police lining a protective fence in front of its wall in northern Tehran. The protest ended after an hour.

...

The drawing, by newspaper cartoonist Kurt Westergaard, depicts Islam's prophet wearing a turban shaped like a bomb.

http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5ia...ZICu7xsnwWeI9eg

Images from Yahoo:

Pakistani students chant slogans next to burning tyres during a protest at the republication of cartoons in Multan.

Traders shout slogans during a protest against the republication of cartoons, in Multan.

Supporters of Islami Jamiat-e-Talba group chant slogans during a protest against the republication of cartoons in Peshawar.

Supporters of the Pakistani Islamic student group, Islami Jamait Tulaba, chant slogans during a rally against the the reproduction of cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad in Danish newspapers, in Peshawar.

Afghan students shoot slogans, as a letters reading,' Down with the dammed Denmark's government,' is seen written ed on an effigy during a demonstration against the reproduction of cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad.

Afghan protesters step on the burnt flags of Denmark and Dutch during a demonstration against the reproduction of cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad.

Pakistani students hold placards in Karachi during a protest against the reprinting of cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammad.

Pakistani protesters burn a Danish flag to show their anger against the reproduction of cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad.

Supporters of Jamat-e-Islami party shout slogans during a protest against the reprinting of cartoons depicting Prophet Mohammad in Karachi.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

These pics are all from NWFP in Pakistan (the so-called "tribal" areas) -- none of these are from the protest at the Danish embassy (which is what your article is about.) I will try to find some pics of the actual Danish protest in a few minutes -- have to kick out something real quick for work first.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Karachi isn't in the NWFP, it's in Sindh. Neither is Multan - it's in Punjab.

Peshawar, however, is in NWFP.

And yes, I know they're not from Iran.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Karachi isn't in the NWFP, it's in Sindh. Neither is Multan - it's in Punjab.

Peshawar, however, is in NWFP.

And yes, I know they're not from Iran.

Oops my bad -- for some reason I was thinking "Mardan" when I saw "Multan."

Anyway here are some pics from the protest in Iran -- looks a bit different than what is happening in Pakistan:

I see heavy police presence here protecting the embassy, and no burning at all. According to Reuters, the clerics in the pics are trying to help police control the crowd.

[Ban Hammer 13,355]

they better not mess with denmark, they'll invade with milk cows.

[SteveLaura 0]

Aside from the offensive nature of the cartoon, is the depiction of Mohammed actually forbidden by the Koran? I thought I read that it was an interpretation and not strictly written as such. Anyone know?

[Lansbury 19]

What has that got to do with it, Denmark isn't a Muslim country they have the right to free speech and to express their opinions. Pity those objecting seem unable to express they objections in a civilised and intelligent manner.

[SteveLaura 0]

What has that got to do with it, Denmark isn't a Muslim country they have the right to free speech and to express their opinions. Pity those objecting seem unable to express they objections in a civilised and intelligent manner.

Was that in reply to me? Before I answer, just want to check.

[SteveLaura 0]

OK, found the answer:

Q&A: Depicting the Prophet Muhammad

Protests have spread across the Muslim world over the publication in Europe of cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad.

What does the Koran, the holy book of Islam, say on the issue?

There is no specific, or explicit ban int he Koran on images of Allah or the Prophet Muhammad - be they carved, painted or drawn.

However, chapter 42, verse 11 of the Koran does say: "[Allah is] the originator of the heavens and the earth... [there is] nothing like a likeness of Him."

This is taken by Muslims to mean that Allah cannot be captured in an image by human hand, such is his beauty and grandeur. To attempt such a thing is seen as an insult to Allah.

The same is believed to apply to Muhammad.

Chapter 21, verses 52-54 of the Koran read: "[Abraham] said to his father and his people: 'What are these images to whose worship you cleave?' They said: 'We found our fathers worshipping them.' He said: 'Certainly you have been, you and your fathers, in manifest error.'"

From this arises the Muslim belief that images can give rise to idolatry - that is to say an image, rather than the divine being it symbolises, can become the object of worship and veneration.

What does Islamic tradition say on the matter?

Islamic tradition or Hadith, the stories of the words and actions of Muhammad and his Companions, explicitly prohibits images of Allah, Muhammad and all the major prophets of the Christian and Jewish traditions.

More widely, Islamic tradition has discouraged the figurative depiction of living creatures, especially human beings. Islamic art has therefore tended to be abstract or decorative.

Shia Islamic tradition is far less strict on this ban. Reproductions of images of the Prophet, mainly produced in the 7th Century in Persian, can be found.

BBC

[mawilson 2,133]

What has that got to do with it, Denmark isn't a Muslim country they have the right to free speech and to express their opinions. Pity those objecting seem unable to express they objections in a civilised and intelligent manner.

Was that in reply to me? Before I answer, just want to check.

Why should a person in Denmark, a non-Muslim country, care what "the Koran" has to say on the issue?

[SteveLaura 0]

What has that got to do with it, Denmark isn't a Muslim country they have the right to free speech and to express their opinions. Pity those objecting seem unable to express they objections in a civilised and intelligent manner.

Was that in reply to me? Before I answer, just want to check.

Why should a person in Denmark, a non-Muslim country, care what "the Koran" has to say on the issue?

Two things spring to mind. What does the law in Denmark say about it? The UK have hate crimes regarding religion, I believe - which, possibly, this depiction could come under. Does Denmark? Secondly - cultural sensitivity. Just because I have the right to say something, doesn't mean I should or have to. If I were to wander around Utah, I wouldn't feel the need to go out of way to yell that Joseph Smith was a fraud.

[Lansbury 19]

Two things spring to mind. What does the law in Denmark say about it? The UK have hate crimes regarding religion, I believe - which, possibly, this depiction could come under. Does Denmark? Secondly - cultural sensitivity. Just because I have the right to say something, doesn't mean I should or have to. If I were to wander around Utah, I wouldn't feel the need to go out of way to yell that Joseph Smith was a fraud.

As long as you are legally allowed to voice your opinion it is your choice what you choose to do. You have a right to exercise that choice and not be silence by a bunch of violent thugs.

In Denmark there appears to be no law to prevent the newspapers voicing the opinion they did. Therefore they can regardless of what the Koran might say. Unless you are Muslim who cares what the Koran might say, in the same way say a Hindu might not feel obliged to comply with something the bible says.

[Ban Hammer 13,355]

What has that got to do with it, Denmark isn't a Muslim country they have the right to free speech and to express their opinions. Pity those objecting seem unable to express they objections in a civilised and intelligent manner.

Was that in reply to me? Before I answer, just want to check.

Why should a person in Denmark, a non-Muslim country, care what "the Koran" has to say on the issue?

Two things spring to mind. What does the law in Denmark say about it? The UK have hate crimes regarding religion, I believe - which, possibly, this depiction could come under. Does Denmark? Secondly - cultural sensitivity. Just because I have the right to say something, doesn't mean I should or have to. If I were to wander around Utah, I wouldn't feel the need to go out of way to yell that Joseph Smith was a fraud.

[Risto 0]

Why is Ok to offend anyone but muslims?

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

intolerant savages