Bounty on the Head of the Danish Cartoonist!
ThePolitician @ Fri Feb 17, 2006 9:02 am
I heard this on John Gormley this morning as an offer of $20,000 to the person who kills the cartoonist responsible for the cartoons.
This is the first website I found with the story, it has a slight variation as far as the reward, but certainly drives home the point.
24 News
$1:
Kill the cartoonist, get a car
17/02/2006 15:21 - (SA)
Peshawar - A Pakistani cleric offered a 1.5 million rupee ($25 000) reward and a car to anyone who kills the cartoonist who drew Prophet Muhammad, while another Islamist leader was put under house detention amid fears of more deadly demonstrations, officials said on Friday.
Thousands of security forces had been deployed as crowds took the streets across the country on Friday. Police arrested 125 protesters for violating a ban on rallies in eastern Pakistan and arrested 70 others after firing tear gas to disperse protests in the southern city of Karachi. Thousands staged rallies in other cities.
Mohammed Yousaf Qureshi, prayer leader at the historic Mohabat Khan mosque in the northwestern city of Peshawar, said the mosque and the Jamia Ashrafia religious school he leads would give 1.5 million rupees ($25 000) and a car as a "prize" for the killing of the prophet cartoonist.
He also said a local jewellers association would give $1,m. No representative of the association was available to confirm it had made the offer.
'Deserves to die'
Qureshi did not name any cartoonist in his announcement, made to about 1 000 people outside the mosque after Friday prayers, where worshippers burned a flag of Denmark and an effigy of the Danish prime minister. He did not appear aware that 12 different people had drawn the pictures - considered blasphemous by Muslims.
"This is a unanimous decision of by all imams (prayer leaders) of Islam that whoever insults the prophet deserves to be killed and whoever will take this insulting man to his end, will get this prize," Qureshi said.
Sirajul Haq, a minister in the hardline Islamic provincial government, told the same gathering the government should demand the extradition of the cartoonist and put him on trial in Pakistan.
A Danish newspaper, Jyllands-Posten, first printed the prophet pictures by 12 cartoonists in September. The newspaper has since apologised to Muslims for the cartoons, one of them showing Muhammad wearing a bomb-shaped turban with an ignited fuse. Other Western newspapers, mostly in Europe, have reprinted the pictures, asserting their news value and the right to freedom of expression.
In Copenhagen, the Danish government said Friday it has temporarily closed its embassy in Pakistan following violent cartoon protests - in which Western businesses were burned or vandalized and five people killed this week.
"We have decided to do so because of the general security situation in the country," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lars Thuesen said.
Denmark last week temporarily closed its embassies in Lebanon, Syria, Iran and Indonesia, after anti-Danish protests and threats against staff.
Clerics at mosques across Pakistan condemned the cartoons at prayers on Friday - the Muslim sabbath.
"Give enough power to the Muslim countries and enable them to take revenge," said Qari Saeed Ullah, a prayer leader in Islamabad.
In Peshawar - violent protests on Wednesday left two dead and scores injured.
17/02/2006 15:21 - (SA)
Peshawar - A Pakistani cleric offered a 1.5 million rupee ($25 000) reward and a car to anyone who kills the cartoonist who drew Prophet Muhammad, while another Islamist leader was put under house detention amid fears of more deadly demonstrations, officials said on Friday.
Thousands of security forces had been deployed as crowds took the streets across the country on Friday. Police arrested 125 protesters for violating a ban on rallies in eastern Pakistan and arrested 70 others after firing tear gas to disperse protests in the southern city of Karachi. Thousands staged rallies in other cities.
Mohammed Yousaf Qureshi, prayer leader at the historic Mohabat Khan mosque in the northwestern city of Peshawar, said the mosque and the Jamia Ashrafia religious school he leads would give 1.5 million rupees ($25 000) and a car as a "prize" for the killing of the prophet cartoonist.
He also said a local jewellers association would give $1,m. No representative of the association was available to confirm it had made the offer.
'Deserves to die'
Qureshi did not name any cartoonist in his announcement, made to about 1 000 people outside the mosque after Friday prayers, where worshippers burned a flag of Denmark and an effigy of the Danish prime minister. He did not appear aware that 12 different people had drawn the pictures - considered blasphemous by Muslims.
"This is a unanimous decision of by all imams (prayer leaders) of Islam that whoever insults the prophet deserves to be killed and whoever will take this insulting man to his end, will get this prize," Qureshi said.
Sirajul Haq, a minister in the hardline Islamic provincial government, told the same gathering the government should demand the extradition of the cartoonist and put him on trial in Pakistan.
A Danish newspaper, Jyllands-Posten, first printed the prophet pictures by 12 cartoonists in September. The newspaper has since apologised to Muslims for the cartoons, one of them showing Muhammad wearing a bomb-shaped turban with an ignited fuse. Other Western newspapers, mostly in Europe, have reprinted the pictures, asserting their news value and the right to freedom of expression.
In Copenhagen, the Danish government said Friday it has temporarily closed its embassy in Pakistan following violent cartoon protests - in which Western businesses were burned or vandalized and five people killed this week.
"We have decided to do so because of the general security situation in the country," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lars Thuesen said.
Denmark last week temporarily closed its embassies in Lebanon, Syria, Iran and Indonesia, after anti-Danish protests and threats against staff.
Clerics at mosques across Pakistan condemned the cartoons at prayers on Friday - the Muslim sabbath.
"Give enough power to the Muslim countries and enable them to take revenge," said Qari Saeed Ullah, a prayer leader in Islamabad.
In Peshawar - violent protests on Wednesday left two dead and scores injured.
Imagine if someone like Bishop Henry from Calgary (I use his name because he is always in the news anyway) or someone in a similar position in "the west" dared to make such a pointed direct threat? He would be arrested, charged for hate crimes, stripped of all of his titles, have his reputation severley harmed, etc.
Wullu @ Sat Feb 18, 2006 3:55 pm
Wonder if he will go after this kid as well..............
$1:
HALIFAX -- A Halifax high school student who was censured by his teachers for distributing a controversial cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad says he doesn't plan on apologizing.
Tim Mitchell, a Grade 12 student at the Halifax Grammar School, printed a newsletter containing a drawing from a Danish newspaper that shows the Prophet with a turban shaped like a bomb.
The 17-year-old met with school officials yesterday, a day after being admonished for bringing copies of the Student Voice to the school.
Mitchell said he was ordered to stop bringing his newsletter to school, to submit a report next week reflecting on the incident and to write a formal apology.
"I might write, 'I'm sorry that the school would have to censor this and I'm sorry that one comic could create so much controversy,' but in no way am I sorry for publishing it," Mitchell said later.
School officials did not return calls yesterday, but have said the cartoon and others like it, which have sparked protests and deadly riots throughout the Islamic world, were offensive and should be limited to classroom discussion.
Officials at the private school also wanted to distance themselves from the newsletter, which is not officially sanctioned by the school.
Bruce Wark, who teaches ethics at the University of King's College school of journalism in Halifax, said the cartoon debate is about more than free speech.
"Only a fool would not see that there's more going on, given the big political context . . . and the sensitivity of these," he said.
Wark said it's difficult for people in the West to understand the varied beliefs of Muslims, many of whom think that any depiction of the Prophet is blasphemous.
"We're seeing something that goes far beyond freedom of expression or responsible news coverage. It has deep cultural roots in both the West and Islamic world."
Mitchell said he was considering printing more copies.
"I might just post a follow-up copy, but instead of distributing them around the school, I'll just distribute it off school grounds, where they will have no say in the matter. That makes me want to do it more. They tell me not to -- I'm just going to resist that."
Mitchell said he didn't intend to offend anyone, but wanted to let students see the cartoons that have been the subject of front-page headlines around the world.
Mitchell said he spoke with Muslim students before printing the drawing and included an article written by a Muslim student.
"People in my school community really had no idea what the issue was. They realized something was happening with these protests, but they didn't really realize what was really causing all the controversy," Mitchell said.
"And of all the innocent people who have died because of it -- I think people should know why they are dying."
Tim Mitchell, a Grade 12 student at the Halifax Grammar School, printed a newsletter containing a drawing from a Danish newspaper that shows the Prophet with a turban shaped like a bomb.
The 17-year-old met with school officials yesterday, a day after being admonished for bringing copies of the Student Voice to the school.
Mitchell said he was ordered to stop bringing his newsletter to school, to submit a report next week reflecting on the incident and to write a formal apology.
"I might write, 'I'm sorry that the school would have to censor this and I'm sorry that one comic could create so much controversy,' but in no way am I sorry for publishing it," Mitchell said later.
School officials did not return calls yesterday, but have said the cartoon and others like it, which have sparked protests and deadly riots throughout the Islamic world, were offensive and should be limited to classroom discussion.
Officials at the private school also wanted to distance themselves from the newsletter, which is not officially sanctioned by the school.
Bruce Wark, who teaches ethics at the University of King's College school of journalism in Halifax, said the cartoon debate is about more than free speech.
"Only a fool would not see that there's more going on, given the big political context . . . and the sensitivity of these," he said.
Wark said it's difficult for people in the West to understand the varied beliefs of Muslims, many of whom think that any depiction of the Prophet is blasphemous.
"We're seeing something that goes far beyond freedom of expression or responsible news coverage. It has deep cultural roots in both the West and Islamic world."
Mitchell said he was considering printing more copies.
"I might just post a follow-up copy, but instead of distributing them around the school, I'll just distribute it off school grounds, where they will have no say in the matter. That makes me want to do it more. They tell me not to -- I'm just going to resist that."
Mitchell said he didn't intend to offend anyone, but wanted to let students see the cartoons that have been the subject of front-page headlines around the world.
Mitchell said he spoke with Muslim students before printing the drawing and included an article written by a Muslim student.
"People in my school community really had no idea what the issue was. They realized something was happening with these protests, but they didn't really realize what was really causing all the controversy," Mitchell said.
"And of all the innocent people who have died because of it -- I think people should know why they are dying."
Tricks @ Sat Feb 18, 2006 4:01 pm
the first day I heard about this whole thing I was going to tape a danish flack to my back and front, but then I realized I might be killed because my school is extremely multicultural.
BartSimpson @ Sat Feb 18, 2006 4:37 pm
Tricks Tricks:
the first day I heard about this whole thing I was going to tape a danish flack to my back and front, but then I realized I might be killed because my school is extremely multicultural.
As I've often said; multiculturalism and diversity are not about multiculturalism and diversity.
BartSimpson @ Sat Feb 18, 2006 4:47 pm
Tricks Tricks:
the first day I heard about this whole thing I was going to tape a danish flack to my back and front, but then I realized I might be killed because my school is extremely multicultural.
And were that to happen then I'd be doing my next job for free.
NorthCelt @ Sat Feb 18, 2006 5:36 pm
Before everyone goes wildly off the deep end on this, just ten short years ago "The Last Temptation of Christ" was showing in a french theater and the place got torched resulting in one dead. Remember 'Life of Brian'? That wasn't even about Jesus and there were insane protests all over the states. Oh yeah, and how about all those Beatle records burnt on bonfires because of John Lennon's rather apt quote about the group being 'bigger than Jesus'?
Yeah, extremists in the muslim world have gone off the deep-end for sure, but they haven't been alone in the past. Free speech is free speech for the west, but some stuff is designed to press buttons.
Don't think so? Well, the editor of the Danish paper these were shown in is a close associate of one Daniel Pipes, a rather notorious purveyor of islamic-focused hate. Is anyone open to the idea that, just like in the book '1984', the masses are being manipulated?
You want to be a sheep, then be a sheep. Anyone with a brain questions what they're being presented with. If you take it all on faith, you could be setting yourself up to be a stooge.
Tricks @ Sat Feb 18, 2006 5:41 pm
BartSimpson BartSimpson:
Tricks Tricks:
the first day I heard about this whole thing I was going to tape a danish flack to my back and front, but then I realized I might be killed because my school is extremely multicultural.
And were that to happen then I'd be doing my next job for free.
I always have an eye out. Too many school shootings.