Swedish artist attacked during free-speech lecture

[Danno 1,228]

Swedish artist attacked during free-speech lecture

May 11 01:37 PM US/Eastern

By MALIN RISING

Associated Press Writer

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STOCKHOLM (AP) - A Swedish artist who angered Muslims by depicting the Prophet Muhammad as a dog was assaulted Tuesday while giving a university lecture about the limits of artistic freedom.

Lars Vilks told The Associated Press a man in the front row ran up to him and head-butted him during a lecture, breaking his glasses but leaving him uninjured. It wasn't immediately clear what happened to the attacker.

Vilks has faced numerous threats over his controversial drawing of Muhammad with a dog's body, but Tuesday's incident was the first time he has been physically assaulted.

Earlier this year U.S. investigators said Vilks was the target of an alleged murder plot involving Colleen LaRose, an American woman who dubbed herself "Jihad Jane," and who now faces life in prison. She had pleaded not guilty.

Vilks said a group of about 15 people had been shouting and trying to interrupt the lecture before the incident at Uppsala University.

Many of them stormed the front of the room after the attack and clashed with security guards as Vilks was pulled away into a separate room, he said, describing the scene as "complete chaos."

"A man ran up and threw himself over me. I was head-butted and my glasses were broken," Vilks said before hanging up for questioning by police.

Uppsala University spokeswoman Pernilla Bjork said Vilks was showing a provocative film with sexual content to the crowd when the attacker ran up and hit him in the face with his fists.

Swedish news agency TT said police detained two people during the commotion. Uppsala police spokesman Jonas Eronen said he couldn't comment because he didn't have enough information about the incident.

University officials said there had been a peaceful demonstration by Muslims outside the university before Vilks started to speak, and that about 250 people attended his lecture. Bjork said the university had been in contact with police and security guards before Vilks' lecture to ensure his safety.

"We think it is our task as a university to be able discuss difficult issues," she said. "We think it is very unfortunate that this has resulted in violence."

Vilks made his rough sketch more than a year after 12 Danish newspaper cartoons of the prophet sparked furious protests in Muslim countries in 2006.

A Swedish newspaper printed the drawing, leading to further protests, and revived a heated debate in the West and the Muslim world about religious sensitivities and the limits of free speech.

It also led to numerous death threats against Vilks, who was temporarily moved to a secret location after al-Qaida in Iraq put a $100,000 bounty on his head in September 2007.

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9FKPBO00&show_article=1

[Heracles 417]

This is exactly what happens when you let people willy-nilly into a country and don't explain (point out) the obvious to them.

Like:

• Freedom of religion
  
• Freedom of speech
  
• Laws of the land
  
• Tolerance in western societies
  
• Ultimately, the underlying fundamentals and beliefs of a country and the majority of its people.
  

Because of the larger population, this is not yet an issue here but it's definitely coming. Particularly here where you can literally do as you please.

Edited May 11, 2010 by Booyah!

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Wow, they sure do take their silly little religion seriously don't they.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Wow, they sure do take their silly little religion seriously don't they.

better watch out. Them words be head-buttin' words.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

better watch out. Them words be head-buttin' words.

that's ok. they won't come near me because i know the secret. i will share that secret with you right now.

pork is their kryptonite.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

that's ok. they won't come near me because i know the secret. i will share that secret with you right now.

pork is their kryptonite.

so true...

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

so true...

Reminds me of this from a few years ago...

A story based on the Three Little Pigs fairy tale has been turned down by a government agency's awards panel as the subject matter could offend Muslims.

The digital book, re-telling the classic story, was rejected by judges who warned that "the use of pigs raises cultural issues".

...

The book's creative director, Anne Curtis, said the idea that including pigs in a story could be interpreted as racism was "like a slap in the face".

[Heracles 417]

This is also why I have a problem with the burkha. Anyone on that level of fanaticism should not be in a western country.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

This is also why I have a problem with the burkha. Anyone on that level of fanaticism should not be in a western country.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

I'm shocked.

[alienlovechild 75]

What's the big deal? Speakers with the "wrong" political views regularly get protested and some get assaulted at American universities.

[Nagishkaw 510]

Reminds me of this from a few years ago...

A story based on the Three Little Pigs fairy tale has been turned down by a government agency's awards panel as the subject matter could offend Muslims.

The digital book, re-telling the classic story, was rejected by judges who warned that "the use of pigs raises cultural issues".

...

The book's creative director, Anne Curtis, said the idea that including pigs in a story could be interpreted as racism was "like a slap in the face".

And I wonder if this is offensive to pigs:

[sandinista! 1,816]

does anyone who has commented even know who the attacker was? or why they did it?

strange things have happened before-pim fortuyn was killed by a non-religious, vegan environmentalist.

[Danno 1,228]

does anyone who has commented even know who the attacker was? or why they did it?

strange things have happened before-pim fortuyn was killed by a non-religious, vegan environmentalist.

Are you holding out hope it was a Baptist extremist?