Around 2,500 people have marched through the Norwegian capital of Oslo in protest at the printing of a contentious caricature of the Islamic Prophet Mohammed by a local newspaper. Placards were waved and chants in Arabic of “God is great” filled the air as demonstrators demanded a boycott of the daily Dagbladet.
Earlier this month, on the 3rd of February, Dagbladet published an image of a man seated at a computer terminal with a pig-like portrayal of Mohammed on the monitor. The image was accompanied by an article which covered allegations that the Facebook homepage of the Norwegian security police forces was being used to post offensive material about both Jews and Muslims.
Lars Helle, Dagbladet’s acting editor-in-chief, denied any regrets in printing the contentious image and welcomed reaction to the decision. “It was a test for Norwegian society — whether this would be a peaceful protest or not,” he stated, adding that no direct threats towards the newspaper itself had been made. In a possibly related incident, the Dagbladet website was hacked into and brought down for two hours by a Turkish operator.
Protesters have claimed that their actions were designed to show the media just how insulting such images are for Muslims. Under Islamic law any depiction of Mohammed is forbidden, regardless of how favourable, due to concerns that this could promote idolatry. “We have done nothing to anybody. We want to live here in peace. Norway is our home. Our children live here. Why should they (Norwegian media) hurt us like this?” said one of the protest organisers, 43-year-old school teacher Naradim Muhammad
The protest was peaceful, save for one instance of a firecracker being thrown into a café’s outdoor area with minor burn marks to a sofa. At the conclusion of the event, attendees were encouraged to return home or to pray at a local mosque. Police were on hand throughout, but maintained a low profile.
I think muslim are arogant they said all people must respect Islam but as general in moslem country non muslim life under pressure of Islam no allow freedom of speech, and they minimize the acctivities of non muslim sometimes even worse (there are many story to tell like burning the church), I can said that because I live in biggest muslim country in the world. Viva freedom of speech! Dont afraid terror of Muhammad and his follower.
YOU PEOPLE SHOULD RESPECT OR PROPHET AS WE RESPECT YOURS WE MUSLIM ARE THE BEST NATION IN THIS WORLD AND ASK YOUR CHURCH’S FATHER ALLAH TEL MUCH TIME OF OUR PRORHET IN YOUR BIBLE EEN YOU PEOPLE HAVE CHANGED IT
EDITOR MUST OPLOGISE OTHER WISE SHE WOULD SUFFER BECAUSE WE HAVE GREAT BELIVE THAT OUR ALLAH IS WATCH EVERY THING AND THIS THING IS TOLD US BY OUR BELOVED PROPHET SO BE CARE FULL
This is most disappointing thing which might case a bone of contention between Norway and Muslims. We being a Muslim do not hurt any minority nor offense religious of Muslims are minority in Norway, is there no rights for minority in Norway. Is it a NO MANS LAND??? Or a rule of jungle is established there. cheif editor should apologize for it regretfully.
They immigrated knowing that Norwegian society is very largely non-Muslim , they knew that freedom of speech/expression is the norm, including lampooning cartoons on any subject. Do they realize how “insulting” it is to Westerners for them to try and say because they chose to emigrate to their countries they must now treat Islam preferentially to their own religions….sounds like they have it backwards they need to “get over it” or leave the country if it is that intolerable
Nothing to be surprised of here… Europe is the homeland of Nazism and mass murder…
For society to function, there needs to be mutual respect for differences in cultures and values. Printing Mohammaed cartoons insults basic values for many Muslims. I would like to see how many Norwegians would feel insulted if their newspapers printed something that insulted their basic values (e.g. cartoons of King Harald having oral sex with a dog or Queen Sonja using a cross a sex toy).
Morten.
I think Helen meant the following «Muslims really should think about the different customs and traditions of other people, and Muslims should respect them.» ;-)
And you should really start to use your brain Helena. You got it all wrong, they should respect and adapt to our customs, and if they can´t do that, there is only one plcace for them to be and that is home.
Everybody should post muhammed cartoons.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Useful_idiot
we really should think about the different customs and traditions of other people, and we should respect them.
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