When the Sword Is Mightier Than the Pen
Especially if the pen dares to draw images deemed so disturbing by some that they will cost you a fatwa.
The Irish police, in cooperation with the CIA and the FBI, have stopped a plot to kill Swedish cartoonist Lars Vilks (above), who was targeted by Al Qaida after several of his cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed in an irreverent fashion were exhibited at an arts gallery in 2007.
The terrorist organization issued a fatwa offering $100,000 for his life, with a $50,000 bonus if his throat was slit, after Vilks published his cartoons, including two depicting Mohammed as a dog.
Back in 2007, Vilks told El País newspaper in Madrid, Spain, that, "Islam cannot be exempt from criticism and satire." Ever since then, he cannot sleep in his own home and is constantly changing residences.
The Irish police on Friday arrested seven people, four men and three women, allegedly plotting to assassinate Vilks. According to Irish law, they can remain in detention for seven days before charges are filed against them.
According to an AP report published by The Washington Post, the suspects are Irish citizens of either Yemeni or Moroccan origin, who had been under surveillance since November with the assistance of US anti-terrorist agents.
The plot, of course, brings painful memories of the recent failed attempt to kill Danish cartoonist Kurt Westergaard. Vilks told the AP he received the latest death threats in January, shortly after the attack on Westergaard.
We need to bring back the 2007 prophetic (no pun intended) words of Joergen Ejboel, chairman of the publishing company that owns Jyllands-Posten, the Danish newspaper that published another set of Mohammed cartoons that cost him and his organization the harassment of fanatical Islamic groups.
Perhaps it's time to come out of the cave and realize we no longer live in the 11th Century but a thousand years later.
The Irish police, in cooperation with the CIA and the FBI, have stopped a plot to kill Swedish cartoonist Lars Vilks (above), who was targeted by Al Qaida after several of his cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed in an irreverent fashion were exhibited at an arts gallery in 2007.
The terrorist organization issued a fatwa offering $100,000 for his life, with a $50,000 bonus if his throat was slit, after Vilks published his cartoons, including two depicting Mohammed as a dog.
Back in 2007, Vilks told El País newspaper in Madrid, Spain, that, "Islam cannot be exempt from criticism and satire." Ever since then, he cannot sleep in his own home and is constantly changing residences.
The Irish police on Friday arrested seven people, four men and three women, allegedly plotting to assassinate Vilks. According to Irish law, they can remain in detention for seven days before charges are filed against them.
According to an AP report published by The Washington Post, the suspects are Irish citizens of either Yemeni or Moroccan origin, who had been under surveillance since November with the assistance of US anti-terrorist agents.
The plot, of course, brings painful memories of the recent failed attempt to kill Danish cartoonist Kurt Westergaard. Vilks told the AP he received the latest death threats in January, shortly after the attack on Westergaard.
We need to bring back the 2007 prophetic (no pun intended) words of Joergen Ejboel, chairman of the publishing company that owns Jyllands-Posten, the Danish newspaper that published another set of Mohammed cartoons that cost him and his organization the harassment of fanatical Islamic groups.
A lot of people will be offended by the truth. Nowadays, it seems that you can hardly say anything before somebody will sue you for anything.
But the truth can never be characterized as defamation. If one claimed to be subject to defamation he has to prove before the court he was defamed, not one of his heroes or icons who lived hundreds of years ago.
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.
(…)
And 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.
But the truth can never be characterized as defamation. If one claimed to be subject to defamation he has to prove before the court he was defamed, not one of his heroes or icons who lived hundreds of years ago.
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.
(…)
And 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.
Perhaps it's time to come out of the cave and realize we no longer live in the 11th Century but a thousand years later.
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