Muslim Man Arrested, Charged After Allegedly Trying to Kill Danish Cartoonist
A Somali man is under custody in the Danish town of Aarhus after he allegedly tried to kill Danish cartoonist Kurt Westergaard, whose cartoon of Prophet Mohammed hiding a bomb under his turban triggered an earthquake of rage throughout the Muslim world in 2005.
File photo of Kurt Westergaard by EPA
According to news reports, the suspect was able to enter Westergaard's home, who along with her granddaughter was able to lock themselves in a safe room inside his house.
Westergaard, 74, called the police from his shelter, and once they arrived to his home, they shot the suspect twice after he threatened them with a knife and an ax.
The 28-year-old suspect, whose identity was not revealed because of Denmark's privacy laws, was arrested and charged with two counts of attempted murder. His wounds are not life threatening.
The Voice of America:
Ever since the cartoons were first published by the Jyllandis Posten newspaper, the cartoonists, including Westergaard, the editors of the newspaper and its publisher have received numerous death threats from Muslim extremists, and the paper's offices have been evacuated several times because of bomb threats.
In 2007, as the keynote speaker of WPFC's Andersen-Ottaway Lecture in Washington, Joergen Ejboel, publisher of the Jyllands Posten, warned the world about caving in to extremists from any religion or political inclination. His words resonate today as loud and wise as ever.
“If a cartoon can be legal in one context and a crime in another, then the door is wide open to any group who might come forward and insist that any caricature of their leader or hero amounts to defamation,” said Ejboel.
And he added: “Governments and all kinds of groups with their taboos can ally themselves with one another. If you respect my taboo, I’ll respect yours. If this continues long enough we will witness further limitations on speech, crimping free debate, creative journalism and exchange of information.
"Freedom of speech provides oxygen for any society. Freedom of speech is the very basis for development and progress in any country. Therefore, we must all stand firm. There is no room for soft talk or misplaced understanding or compromise or we will be misused."
Our thoughts are with Kurt Westergaard, Joergen Ejboel and all those who literally put their lives on the line to protect one of the most basic human rights, the freedom of expression and of the press.
File photo of Kurt Westergaard by EPA
According to news reports, the suspect was able to enter Westergaard's home, who along with her granddaughter was able to lock themselves in a safe room inside his house.
Westergaard, 74, called the police from his shelter, and once they arrived to his home, they shot the suspect twice after he threatened them with a knife and an ax.
The 28-year-old suspect, whose identity was not revealed because of Denmark's privacy laws, was arrested and charged with two counts of attempted murder. His wounds are not life threatening.
The Voice of America:
He said in remarks aired by Danish television that he escaped unhurt after a tense stand-off. Cartoonist Westergaard explains the man tried to enter the area where he and his grandchild sought shelter. He says the suspect also shouted abusive language as he tried to break down the (entrance) door. Westergaard adds that he was able to contact police. In his words "It was scary. It was close, really close, but we did it."
The deputy chief superintendent of the Aarhus police, Fritz Keldsen, told reporters that his forces arrived late Friday within minutes after receiving Westergaard's distress call.
He confirmed that the man was shot after apparently threatening police with an axe and a knife. Keldsen says police came in large numbers after receiving an alarm message from Westergaard's home. He explains that when police confronted the suspect he moved away from the scene. Keldsen adds, "He then attacked the police patrol. He did that, so they were qualified to shoot him."
The deputy chief superintendent of the Aarhus police, Fritz Keldsen, told reporters that his forces arrived late Friday within minutes after receiving Westergaard's distress call.
He confirmed that the man was shot after apparently threatening police with an axe and a knife. Keldsen says police came in large numbers after receiving an alarm message from Westergaard's home. He explains that when police confronted the suspect he moved away from the scene. Keldsen adds, "He then attacked the police patrol. He did that, so they were qualified to shoot him."
Ever since the cartoons were first published by the Jyllandis Posten newspaper, the cartoonists, including Westergaard, the editors of the newspaper and its publisher have received numerous death threats from Muslim extremists, and the paper's offices have been evacuated several times because of bomb threats.
In 2007, as the keynote speaker of WPFC's Andersen-Ottaway Lecture in Washington, Joergen Ejboel, publisher of the Jyllands Posten, warned the world about caving in to extremists from any religion or political inclination. His words resonate today as loud and wise as ever.
“If a cartoon can be legal in one context and a crime in another, then the door is wide open to any group who might come forward and insist that any caricature of their leader or hero amounts to defamation,” said Ejboel.
And he added: “Governments and all kinds of groups with their taboos can ally themselves with one another. If you respect my taboo, I’ll respect yours. If this continues long enough we will witness further limitations on speech, crimping free debate, creative journalism and exchange of information.
"Freedom of speech provides oxygen for any society. Freedom of speech is the very basis for development and progress in any country. Therefore, we must all stand firm. There is no room for soft talk or misplaced understanding or compromise or we will be misused."
Our thoughts are with Kurt Westergaard, Joergen Ejboel and all those who literally put their lives on the line to protect one of the most basic human rights, the freedom of expression and of the press.
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