After Jordan’s parliament called for for the punishment of the caricaturists that created images of the Prophet Mohammad, Jordan’s foreign minister got into things Saturday, summoning Denmark’s honorary consul to Amman to discus "the deliberate abuse to Islam and the message of Prophet Mohammad by a Danish paper." Here is the full story from Jordan’s news agency, Petra.
This controversy is snowballing and fast. Both sides feel very strongly about the issue. What one side regards as an important freedom of speech matter, the other sees as a clear case of blasphemy. This debate is likely endless. Although I believe the cartoons were truly offensive to Muslims — with all due respect to the believers — in my humble opinion, I think the issue has gotten out of control, especially with recent calls to boycott Danish products. A number of Arab bloggers have already commented on the issue. Here are some links: Naseem, Roba, Sandmonkey, and Basem.
Blower,I realize they depicted him as a terrorist,but I’m afraid some people assume that’s what he was.I guess it would be like someone drawing a pic of Christ carrying a bomb or machine gun.No doubt many Christians would be outraged and would demand an apology,although the reaction may not be as intense because we are used to people expressing blasphemous views.A case in point is the cover of Rolling Stone with Kayne West wearing a crown of thorns.I would boycott the magazine but I have never read it anyway.
It is all about respect!!!
Remember America’s reaction to the Passion of the Christ? hmmmmmmmmmmmmm
-Hamako
I believe that the Jordanian media, Jordanian Muslims or the Jordanian Gov respect and will not allow anybody (including media) to publish anything which might be directly offensive to the Christians in Jordan. The right of freedom of expression has limits in theory and in practice and cannot be used as an execuse to defame and insult others or feeding hatred. Civilised generations in this world, whether Muslims or Christians, should NOT be raised on racism, blasphemy and insulting others for whatsoever reason.
Dan, I hope you you will note that the problem is not simply the depiction of the prophet Mohammad, it went beyond that by picturing him as a terrorist.
Anyway, people have the right to choose what they buy and what they eat, this is their choice also!
Why it is OK to walk downtown Amman (or any Arab city for that matter) and hear people cursing and using God’s OWN name in vain and blaspheming left and right, while a cartoonist in denmark can draw a cartoon?
Has anyone seen the cartoons?
Shows you how stupid the arab culture is . How about worrying about feeding your people before you worry about a cartoon.
I’m totally amazed at the worldwide Muslim reaction to such a seemingly (to me) minor offense.To be honest,I was not aware of the prohibition against any depiction of Mohammed,and I wonder if the cartoonist was also ignorant of this fact.
Yes Natasha,the debate is likely endless,as evidenced by comments on other blogs and on Aljazeera’s website.Hate to sound negative,but this appears to be a prime example of the inevitable clash of cultures…with no easy solution in sight.
Strange ! Moslems care less about offending anyone; calling some infidels,crusaders,zionists,sons of monkeys and pigs. On the other hand, every one should respect their feelings and their beliefs, eh.
Unfortuntely for Islam, the first step in losing *all* freedom is presuming that there is such a thing as a right to, “not be offended.”, and that someone should enforce that. Everyone find some things offensive. If we all demanding that laws be passed and enforced about them, everyone would be in jail. And its not possible to draw some imaginary line, such as claiming religion is an exception, without offending someone *else’s* religion.