Cartoon Reprint Reignites Fiery Protests

(AP)  Muslims protested Friday in the Gaza Strip, Pakistan and Denmark against the reprinting of a Danish newspaper cartoon depicting the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

Thousands of residents in the conservative Gaza Strip ruled by the militant Islamic Hamas movement marched in the Jebaliya refugee camp chanting: "What Denmark said is heresy."

"It is shameful that Denmark should renew its offense against the prophet," Hamas official Mushir al-Masri told reporters at the protest.

In Pakistan, hundreds of people rallied in various parts of the country, setting fire to Danish flags and demanding the Danish ambassador's expulsion. And in Denmark, a prominent Danish imam urged rioting youth to stop setting fires and hurling rocks at police.

The protests came after Denmark's leading newspapers reproduced one of 12 cartoons of Islam's prophet Wednesday in a gesture of solidarity after police said they uncovered a plot to kill the cartoon's artist. The drawings had sparked deadly riots across the Muslim world in 2006.

About 200 students from the International Islamic University in Islamabad vowed to organize a street march next Friday if the government did not accept their demand.

"We are even ready to sacrifice our life for our beloved Prophet," said Mahmood Sadiqui, a student leader.

About 200 people held a similar rally in Multan, a main city in the eastern Punjab province, burning Danish flags and chanting "Death to the Cartoonist!" and "Boycott, boycott of European products!"

At two rallies in Pakistan's biggest city of Karachi, about 150 supporters from radical Islamic parties torched effigies of the Danish prime minister amid calls to boycott Danish products.

Mohammad Imran, a student leader from Islami Jamiat Talba, a student organization linked with Pakistan's largest Islamic political group, Jamaat-e-Islami, called the cartoon "blasphemous."

"We demand the rulers to sever diplomatic ties" with Denmark and Sweden for publishing the cartoons. "The cartoonist and publisher must be hanged."

It was the second protest in Karachi in as many days. Dozens of Islamic students set fire to a Danish flag on Thursday. In Pakistan, blasphemy of Muhammad is considered a serious crime that carries the death sentence.

In Copenhagen, about 800 people protested peacefully in a march organized by the radical Muslim group Hizb ut-Tahrir.

Meanwhile, a prominent Danish imam urged rioting youth to stop setting fires and hurling rocks at police after a fifth consecutive night of vandalism there and in other Danish cities.

"Please stop what you're doing," Imam Mostafa Chendid, the leader of the Islamic Faith Community, said in an address to young people during Friday's prayer. "The prophet has not taught you to burn down schools, or burn cars or infrastructure."

Nine youths were arrested overnight Friday in Copenhagen, six of whom faced preliminary charges for throwing rocks at police officers, police said Friday. There were no reports of injuries.

[sevenveils]

This cartoon that is being violently protested by Muslims is most apropos.

This silly drawing has drawn a fiery truth so simple yet so accurate, that the artist is due a literary award. Kudos to the reprint and standing up for freedom of expression and freedom of speech. The world needs more of it.

[gunnerv1]

You will notice that the "Boot(Sandel)licking" newspapers we have here in the USA won''t dare offend the ragheadz. Self censorship right here in good old "Freedom of the press" USA. (Not trying to offend anyone, but they all know what they can kiss).

[sigotratando]

"We are even ready to sacrifice our life for our beloved Prophet..."

Isn''t it true that the point behind not creating "likenesses" of the prophet is to avoid the occasion of idolatry? If Allah is the being for whom you live your life, why would you sacrifice your life for a prophet unless you esteemed that person on a similar or same par as worship? You do not need an image (gk: idol) to idolize.

[cmp271]

Is this what the Archbishop of Canturbury wants?

F Muhammad!!! A prophet who encourages the violence Muslims practice? No thanks. Same for Jesus too, and the Christian wrong!!!

[p-syrus]

Civil Liberties & State Religions are mutually incompatible.

Disestablishmentarianism.

It''s the only hope.

[formrusmcsgt]

Tolerance to criticism reflects one''''s personal strength and character. Obviously these protesters have none.

Posted by Displeased at 10:28 AM : Feb 17, 2008

They are acting based on their programming. That''s how dogma works.....

[displeased]

Tolerance to criticism reflects one''s personal strength and character. Obviously these protesters have none.

[nwarky1]

Sand heated to 5000 or 6000 degrees makes glass. We could still drill through 10 or 15 feet of glass for oil. Added benefit; Put rubber wheels on roller blades, etc. and the glass dunes would make a really nice place for the "X" Games....... Additional added benefit; No pipelines would be needed to get the oil to the coast. Just pump it out onto the glass dunes, and follow it to the lowest place, (The sea coast). Pump it directly onto the ships....... Need a thinking President???? Elect me.........

[gce65]

You Muslims lighten up! Don''t take everything so personally. Not every offense is punishable by death; try to be more original than that. How about punishing someone by dousing them with urine? That''d be funny, a public golden shower for infidels.

You have my permission to display the "Buddy Christ" or make Star of David whizz targets for the toilet or draw a comic strip with the Buddha on an exercise bike to lose weight. Be creative, have fun with it!

[offtheback]

Someone should print the text of the koran on rolls of toilet paper then it can be truly be used for the only thing it is any good for.
Death to that (and all) POS cults.
Retaliate against me? 158g. JHP for ya.