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<span id="mi">]'' in September 2005 (). <!-- older blurry English translated images link--> The headline, "Muhammeds ansigt", means "The face of Muhammad".]]</span>

The '''''Jyllands-Posten'' Muhammad cartoons controversy''' began after twelve ]s, most of which depicted the ] ], were published in the ] newspaper '']'' on 30 September 2005. The newspaper announced that this publication was an attempt to contribute to the debate regarding ] and ].

Danish Muslim organizations, who objected to the depictions, responded by holding public protests attempting to raise awareness of ''Jyllands-Posten''&#039;s publication. The ] deepened when further examples of the cartoons were ] in more than fifty other countries.

This led to protests across the Muslim world, some of which escalated into violence with police firing on the crowds (resulting in more than 100 deaths, altogether),<ref>{{cite news|date=]| title=Cartoon Body Count|publisher=Web|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20060326071135/http://www.cartoonbodycount.com/}}</ref> including setting fire to the Danish Embassies in Syria, Lebanon and Iran, storming European buildings, and ] the ], ], ] and ] flags in ]. While a number of Muslim leaders called for protesters to remain peaceful, other Muslim leaders across the globe, including ] of ], issued death threats.<ref>{{Cite web
|url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,399177,00.html
|title=Arson and Death Threats as Muhammad Caricature Controversy Escalates
|date=2006-02-04
|publisher=Spiegel online
|accessdate=2007-04-26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web
|url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/02/04/syria.cartoon/
|title=Embassies torched in cartoon fury
|date=2006-02-05
|publisher=CNN.com
|accessdate=2007-04-26}}</ref> Various groups, primarily in the ], responded by endorsing the Danish policies, including "Buy Danish" campaigns and other displays of support. ] ] described the controversy as ]'s worst ] since ].<ref>{{cite news|date=]|title=
70,000 gather for violent Pakistan cartoons protest|publisher=Times Online|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,25689-2041723,00.html}}</ref>

Some critics of the cartoons described them as ] or ],<ref> ''Washington Post''. "Kuwait called the cartoons "despicable racism."<br />° ''Iran Daily''. "Although Jyllands-Posten maintains that the drawings were an exercise in free speech, many consider them as provocative, racist and Islamophobic"<br />° ''BBC online'' "Egyptian newspaper al-Fagr reprints some of the cartoons, describing them as a "continuing insult" and a "racist bomb". </ref> and argued that they are ] to people of the Muslim faith, are intended to humiliate a Danish minority, or are a manifestation of ignorance about the history of Western ]. The imperialism referred to dates from ] to the current ].<ref>{{cite news|date=]|title=Islam and globanalisation |publisher=Al Ahram|url=http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2006/787/cu4.htm}}</ref>

Supporters have said that the cartoons illustrated an important issue in a period of ] and that their publication is a legitimate exercise of the right of ], explicitly tied to the issue of self-censorship. They claim that Muslims were not targeted in a ] way since unflattering cartoons about other ]s (or their leaders) are frequently printed.<ref>{{cite news|date=]|title=The limits to free speech - Cartoon wars |publisher=The Economist|url=http://www.economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=5494602}}</ref> They question whether some of the riots were spontaneous outpourings as they took place where no spontaneous demonstrations are allowed, and whether the images of Muhammad per se are offensive to Muslims, as thousands of illustrations of Muhammad have appeared in books by and for Muslims.<ref> Amsterdam Forum, Radio Netherlands 11 March 2006</ref>

==Descriptions of the drawings==
{{main|Descriptions of the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons}}

Some of the cartoons can be difficult to understand fully for those who do not know certain Danish language metaphors or are not aware of individuals of note to the Danish public. Furthermore, certain cartoons have captions written in Danish, and one is written in Persian.

==Timeline==
{{main|Timeline of the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy}}

===Debate about self-censorship===
{{Muhammad cartoons}}
On 17 September 2005, the Danish newspaper '']'' ran an article under the headline ''"Dyb angst for kritik af islam"''<ref name="dybangst">{{cite news|date=]|title=Dyb angst for kritik af islam|publisher=Politiken|url=http://politiken.dk/VisArtikel.sasp?PageID=397712}} {{da icon}}</ref> ("Profound anxiety about criticism of Islam"). The article discussed the difficulty encountered by the writer ], who was initially unable to find an ] who was prepared to work with Bluitgen on his children's book ''Koranen og profeten Muhammeds liv'' (]: ''The ] and the life of the Prophet Muhammad'' ISBN 87-638-0049-7). Three artists declined Bluitgen's proposal before one agreed to assist anonymously. According to Bluitgen:

<blockquote>One , with reference to the murder in Amsterdam of the film director ], while another the lecturer at the ] in Copenhagen.<ref name="dybangst"/></blockquote>

In October 2004, a lecturer at the Niebuhr institute at the ] had been assaulted by five assailants who opposed his reading of the ] to non-Muslims during a lecture.<ref>{{cite news|date=]|title=Overfaldet efter Koran-læsning|publisher=TV 2 (Denmark)|url=http://nyhederne.tv2.dk/article.php?id=1424089}} {{da icon}}</ref>

The refusal of the first three artists to participate was seen as evidence of ] and led to much debate in Denmark, with other examples for similar reasons soon emerging. Comedian ] declared that he would (hypothetically) dare to urinate on the Bible on television, but not on the Qur'an.<ref>{{cite news|title=Debat: Bangebuks versus Kulturminister, 3rd section, Bøger, p.7|publisher=Weekendavisen|date=]|url=http://www.infomedia.dk}} {{da icon}}</ref><ref name="whyipub">{{cite news|date=]|title=Why I Published Those Cartoons|publisher=WashingtonPost|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/17/AR2006021702499.html}}</ref> The translators of an essay collection critical of Islam also wished to remain anonymous due to concerns about violent reprisals. {{Fact|date=February 2007}}

===Publication of the cartoons===
{{wikinewshas|previous reports related to this article|
* ]
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}}
On 30 September 2005, the ] ''Jyllands-Posten'' ("The ] Post") published an article entitled "Muhammeds ansigt"<ref name="muhammeds_ansigt">{{cite news|first=Flemming|last=Rose|date=]|title=Muhammeds ansigt|publisher=Jyllands-Posten|url=http://www.jp.dk/login?url=indland/artikel:aid=3293102:fid=11146}} {{da icon}}</ref> ("The face of Muhammad"). The article consisted of twelve cartoons (of which only some depicted Muhammad) and an explanatory text, in which ], ''Jyllands-Posten''&#039;s culture editor, commented:

{{quotation|The modern, ] society is rejected by some Muslims. They demand a special position, insisting on special consideration of their own religious feelings. It is incompatible with contemporary democracy and freedom of speech, where you must be ready to put up with insults, mockery and ridicule. It is certainly not always attractive and nice to look at, and it does not mean that religious feelings should be made fun of at any price, but that is of minor importance in the present context. we are on our way to a slippery slope where no-one can tell how the self-censorship will end. That is why Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten has invited members of the Danish editorial cartoonists union to draw Muhammad as they see him. |<ref name="muhammeds_ansigt" />}}

After the invitation from ''Jyllands-Posten'' to about forty different artists to give their interpretation of Muhammad, twelve ]s chose to respond with a drawing each. Many also commented on the surrounding self-censorship debate. Three of these twelve cartoons were illustrated by Jyllands-Posten's own staff, including the "bomb in turban" and "]s" cartoons.

On 19 February, Rose explained his intent further In the ''Washington Post'':

{{quotation|The cartoonists treated Islam the same way they treat Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism and other religions. And by treating Muslims in Denmark as equals they made a point: We are integrating you into the Danish tradition of satire because you are part of our society, not strangers. The cartoons are including, rather than excluding, Muslims.|<ref name="whyipub" />}}

In October 2005, the Danish daily '']'' polled thirty-one of the forty-three members of the Danish cartoonist association. Twenty-three said they would be willing to draw Muhammad. One had doubts, one would not be willing because of fear of possible reprisals and six cartoonists would not be willing because they respected the Muslim ban on depicting Muhammad.<ref>"Profetens ansigt: Ingen selvcensur blandt tegnere". Politiken 20. oktober 2005, 2. sektion, side 3</ref>

===Danish Prime Minister's meeting refusal===
{{Muslims and controversies}}

Having received petitions from Danish imams, eleven ambassadors from Muslim-majority countries asked for a meeting with Danish Prime Minister ] on 12 October 2005, in order to discuss what they perceived as an "on-going smearing campaign in Danish public circles and media against Islam and Muslims". In a letter, the ambassadors mentioned not only the issue of the Muhammad cartoons, but also a recent indictment against ],<ref>{{cite news|title=Denmark targets extremist media |date=]|url=
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4159220.stm|publisher=]}}</ref> and statements by MP ]<ref>{{da icon}} {{cite news|title=Ordene på Louise Freverts hjemmeside|date=]|url=http://nyhederne.tv2.dk/baggrund/article.php?id=2946997
|publisher=TV2 (Denmark)}}</ref> and the ], ].<ref>{{da icon}} {{cite news|title=Mikkelsen blæser til ny kulturkamp|date=]|url=http://nyhederne.tv2.dk/article.php?id=2923885|publisher=TV2 (Denmark)}}</ref> It concluded:

{{quotation|We deplore these statements and publications and urge Your Excellency’s government to take all those responsible to task under law of the land in the interest of inter-faith harmony, better integration and Denmark's overall relations with the Muslim world.|<ref>{{PDFlink||74.5&nbsp;KB}}</ref>}}

The government answered the ambassadors' request for a meeting with Rasmussen with a letter only: "The freedom of expression has a wide scope and the ] has no means of influencing the press. However, Danish legislation prohibits acts or expressions of blasphemous or discriminatory nature. The offended party may bring such acts or expressions to court, and it is for the courts to decide in individual cases."<ref>{{PDFlink||545&nbsp;KB}} </ref>

The ambassadors maintained that they had never asked for ''Jyllands-Posten'' to be prosecuted; possibly, the non-technical phrase of the letter, "to take NN to task under law", meant something like "to hold NN responsible within the limits of the law".<ref>{{cite news|title=Ambassadør-breve blev forvekslet i Politiken|date=]|url=http://politiken.dk/VisArtikel.iasp?PageID=439519| publisher=Politiken}}</ref> Rasmussen replied: "Even a non-judicial intervention against ''Jyllands-Posten'' would be impossible within our system".<ref>{{da icon}} {{cite news|title=»Oversættelsen er helt uvæsentlig«|date=]|url=http://politiken.dk/VisArtikel.iasp?PageID=439706| publisher=Politiken}}</ref>

The Egyptian ], Aboul Gheit, wrote several letters to the Prime Minister of Denmark and to the ] explaining that they did not want the Prime Minister to prosecute ''Jyllands-Posten''; they only wanted "an official Danish statement underlining the need for and the obligation of respecting all religions and desisting from offending their devotees to prevent an escalation which would have serious and far-reaching consequences".<ref>{{da icon}} {{cite news|title=Egypten gav Fogh mulighed for forsoning|date=]|url=http://politiken.dk/VisArtikel.iasp?PageID=439859| publisher=Politiken}}</ref> Subsequently, the Egyptian government played a leading role in defusing the issue in the Middle East.<ref>{{da icon}} {{cite news|title=Egypten stod bag profetkampagne|date=]|url=http://politiken.dk/VisArtikel.iasp?PageID=439149
| publisher=Politiken}}</ref>

The refusal to meet the ambassadors has been criticized by the Danish ], twenty-two Danish ex-ambassadors, and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, ].<ref>{{da icon}} {{cite news|title=Danish ambassadors criticise Andersen Fogh Rasmussen|date=]|url=http://politiken.dk/VisArtikel.sasp?PageID=425730| publisher=Politiken}}</ref>

===Judicial investigation of ''Jyllands-Posten''===
On 27 October 2005, a number of Muslim organizations filed a complaint with the Danish police claiming that ''Jyllands-Posten'' had committed an offence under section 140 and 266b of the ].<ref name="danish_response_to_un_jan">{{cite news|title=Official Response by the Danish Government to the UN Special Rapporteurs|publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark|date=]|url=http://www.um.dk/NR/rdonlyres/00D9E6F7-32DC-4C5A-8E24-F0C96E813C06/0/060123final.pdf |format=PDF}} {{da icon}}</ref>
* Section 140<ref name="par140">{{cite news|title=§140 of the Danish criminal code|publisher=Juraportalen Themis|url=http://www.themis.dk/synopsis/docs/Lovsamling/Straffeloven_kap_15.html}} {{da icon}}</ref> of the ], known as the blasphemy law, prohibits disturbing ] by publicly ridiculing or insulting the dogmas of worship of any lawfully existing religious community in Denmark. Only one case has ever resulted in a sentence, a 1938 case involving an ] group. The most recent case was in 1971 when a ] of ] was charged, but found not guilty.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dr.dk/Nyheder/Politik/2006/02/16/130153.htm|title=Den glemte paragraf|publisher=dr.dk|date=]}} {{da icon}}</ref>
* Section 266b<ref name="par266b">{{cite news|title=§266b of the Danish criminal code|publisher=Juraportalen Themis|url=http://www.themis.dk/synopsis/docs/Lovsamling/Straffeloven_kap_27.html}} {{da icon}}</ref> criminalises insult, threat or degradation of ]s, by publicly and with ] attacking their race, ] skin, national or ethnical roots, faith or sexual orientation.

On 6 January 2006, the Regional ] in ] discontinued the investigation as he found no basis for concluding that the cartoons constituted a ]. His reason is based on his finding that the article concerns a subject of ] and, further, on Danish ] which extends editorial freedom to journalists when it comes to a subject of public interest. He stated that, in assessing what constitutes an offence, the right to freedom of speech must be taken into consideration. He stated that the right to freedom of speech must be exercised with the necessary respect for other ], including the right to protection against discrimination, insult and degradation, but no apparent violation of the law had occurred.<ref name="danish_response_to_un_jan"/> In a new hearing, the Director of Public Prosecutors in Denmark agreed.<ref name="rigsadvokaten PR"> {{cite news|title=Decision on possible criminal proceedings|publisher=Rigsadvokaten|date=]|url=http://www.rigsadvokaten.dk/ref.aspx?id=890 |format=PDF}}</ref>

===Danish Imams tour the Middle East===
{{main|Akkari-Laban dossier}}

Two ]s who had been granted sanctuary in Denmark, dissatisfied with the reaction of the Danish Government and ''Jyllands-Posten'', created a forty-three-page document entitled "''Dossier about championing the prophet Muhammad peace be upon him''."<ref name="pdfdossier">{{cite news|title=Photocopy of the Imam's dossier|publisher=Politiken|url=http://politiken.dk/media/pdf/5679.PDF}}</ref> This consisted of several letters from Muslim organisations explaining their case including allegations of the mistreatment of Danish Muslims, citing the ''Jyllands-Posten'' cartoons (including the false claim that said publication was a government-run newspaper) and also supplementing the following causes of "pain and torment" for the authors:
# Pictures from another Danish newspaper, '']'', which they called "even more offending" (than the original twelve cartoons);
# Hate-mail pictures and letters that the dossier's authors alleged were sent to Muslims in Denmark, said to be indicative of the rejection of Muslims by the Danish;
# A televised interview discussing Islam with ] ] and Islam critic ], who had received the Freedom Prize "for her work to further freedom of speech and the rights of women" from the ] represented by Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

Appended to the dossier were multiple clippings from ''Jyllands-Posten'', multiple clippings from ''Weekendavisen'', some clippings from Arabic-language papers and three additional images which also had no connection with Denmark. ]

The imams claimed that the three additional images were sent anonymously by mail to Muslims who were participating in an online debate on ''Jyllands-Posten'',<ref>{{cite news|title=Sådan gik chatten - Bjerager og Akkari|publisher=TV2|date=]|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20060220185434/http://politik.tv2.dk/article.php/3617652.html}} See question asked by ''xaria'' and answered by Akkari {{da icon}}</ref> and were apparently included to illustrate the perceived atmosphere of Islamophobia in which they lived.<ref>{{cite news|title=What the Muhammad cartoons portray|publisher=BBC|date=]|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4693292.stm}}</ref> On 1 February ] incorrectly reported that one of them had been published in ''Jyllands-Posten''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Imam viste falske billeder|publisher=Jyllands-Posten|date=]|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20060207015200/www.jp.dk/indland/artikel:aid=3527718/}} {{da icon}}</ref> This image was later found<ref></ref> to be a wire-service photo of a contestant at a French pig-squealing contest.<ref></ref> One of the other two additional images (a photo) portrayed a Muslim being mounted by a dog while praying, and the other (a cartoon) portrayed Muhammad as a demonic paedophile. Equipped with the dossier, the two imams circulated it throughout the Muslim world, presenting their case to many influential religious and ], asking for support.<ref></ref>

The dossier<ref name="pdfdossier" /> contained such statements as the following:
* We urge you to &mdash; on the behalf of thousands of believing Muslims &mdash; to give us the opportunity of having a constructive contact with the press and particularly with the relevant decision makers, not briefly, but with a scientific methodology and a planned and long-term programme seeking to make views approach each other and remove misunderstandings between the two parties involved. Since we do not wish for Muslims to be accused of being backward and narrow, likewise we do not wish for Danes to be accused of ideological arrogance either. When this relationship is back on its track, the result will bring satisfaction, an underpinning of security and the stable relations, and a flourishing Denmark for all that live here.
* The faithful in their religion (Muslims) suffer under a number of circumstances, first and foremost the lack of official recognition of the Islamic faith. This has led to a lot of problems, especially the lack of right to build mosques
* Even though they belong to the ], the secularizations have overcome them, and if you say that they are all infidels, then you are not wrong.
* We do not need lessons in democracy, but it is actually us, who through our deeds and speeches educate the whole world in democracy.
* This dictatorial way of using democracy is completely unacceptable.
The inclusion in the dossier of the cartoons from ''Weekendavisen'' was possibly a misunderstanding, as these were more likely intended as parodies of the pompousness of ''Jyllands-Posten'''s cartoons than as comments on Muhammad in their own right.<ref> {{da icon}}</ref> They consist of reproductions of works such as the '']'' (caption: ''For centuries, a previously unknown society has known that this is a painting of the Prophet, and guarded this secret. The back page's anonymous artist is doing everything he can to reveal this secret in his contribution. He has since then been forced to go underground, fearing for the wrath of a crazy albino imam''). This is an obvious parody of the ].

At a 6 December 2005 summit of the ], with many ] in attendance, the dossier was handed around on the sidelines first,<ref>{{cite news|title= How a meeting of leaders in Mecca set off the cartoon wars around the world|publisher=The Independent|date=]|url=http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/article344482.ece}}</ref> and eventually an official communiqué was issued, demanding that the ] impose ] upon Denmark.<ref name="UN resolution">{{cite news|date=]|title=Muslims seek UN resolution over Danish prophet cartoons|publisher=IslamOnLine|url=http://www.islam-online.net/English/News/2006-01/30/article01.shtml}}</ref>

===''Jyllands-Posten'' response===
In response to protests from Muslim groups, ''Jyllands-Posten'' published two open letters on its website, each of them in a ] and an ] version.<ref>{{PDFlink||18.2&nbsp;KB}} {{ar icon}}</ref> The second letter, dated 30 January 2006, also has an ] version:<ref>{{cite news|date=]|title=Honourable Fellow Citizens of the Muslim World|url= http://www.jp.dk/meninger/ncartikel:aid=3527646|publisher=Jyllands-Posten}}</ref>

{{quotation|In our opinion, the 12 drawings were sober. They were not intended to be offensive, nor were they at variance with Danish law, but they have indisputably offended many Muslims for which we apologize.}}

On 26 February, the cartoonist who had drawn the "bomb in turban" picture, the most
controversial of the twelve, explained:

{{quotation|There are interpretations of it that are incorrect. The general impression among Muslims is that it is about Islam as a whole. It is not. It is about certain fundamentalist aspects, that of course are not shared by everyone. But the fuel for the terrorists’ acts stem from interpretations of Islam. if parts of a religion develop in a totalitarian and aggressive direction, then I think you have to protest. We did so under the other 'isms.|<ref>{{cite news|date=]|title=Jyllands-Posten: Bomben's Ophavsmand|url= http://www.jp.dk/udland/artikel:aid=3579334:fid=11338/|publisher=Jyllands-Posten}} {{da icon}}</ref>}}

===Reprinting in other newspapers===
]'s 17 October 2005'' headline page.]]
{{see|List of newspapers that reprinted Jyllands-Posten's Muhammad cartoons}}
In 2005, the Muhammad cartoons controversy received only minor media attention outside of Denmark. Six of the cartoons were first reprinted by the Egyptian newspaper '']'' on 17 October 2005,<ref>{{cite news|date=]|title=Danes Blame Imams for Satire Escalation, Survey Says (Update1)|publisher=Bloomberg|url= http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000085&sid=a8hEmi2ja5cg&refer=europe}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=]|title=No Danish Treatment for an Egyptian Newspaper|publisher=FreedomForEgyptians|url= http://freedomforegyptians.blogspot.com/2006/02/egyptian-newspaper-pictures-that.html}}</ref> along with an article strongly denouncing them, but publication did not provoke any condemnations or other reactions from religious or government authorities. Between October 2005 and the end of January 2006, examples of the cartoons were reprinted in major European newspapers from the ], Germany, ], ] and France. Very soon after, as protests grew, there were further re-publications around the globe, but primarily in ].

Notable for a lack of republication of the cartoons were most major newspapers in Canada,<ref name="National Post"></ref> the ]<ref>{{cite news|date=]|title=A media dilemma: The rest of a story|publisher=Philadelphia Inquirer|url=http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/front/13788640.htm}}</ref> and the United Kingdom,<ref>{{cite news|date=]|title=US, British media tread carefully in cartoon furor|publisher=Christian Science Monitor|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0206/dailyUpdate.html}}</ref> where editorials covered the story without including them. Several ] for their decision or intention to re-publish the cartoons, including the shutting down of a 60 year old ] permanently.

===Economic and social consequences===
{{main|Economic and social consequences of the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy}}
]
A consumer ] was organised in ], ], and other Middle East countries.<ref>{{cite news|date=]|title=The Inciters and the Incited|publisher=Der Spiegel International Edition|url=http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/spiegel/0,1518,400519,00.html}}</ref>
For weeks, numerous demonstrations and other protests against the cartoons took place worldwide. Rumours spread via ] and ].<ref>{{cite news|date=]|title=E-Mail, Blogs, Text Messages Propel Anger Over Images|publisher=Washington Post|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/08/AR2006020802293.html}}</ref> On 4 February 2006, the Danish and ] embassies in ] were set ablaze, although with no injuries. In ], the Danish ] was set on fire,<ref>{{cite news|date=]|title=Protesters burn consulate over cartoons|publisher=CNN|url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/02/05/cartoon.protests/index.html}}</ref> leaving one protester dead.<ref>{{cite news|date=]|title=Protestors killed as global furor over cartoons escalates|publisher=Middle East Times|url=http://www.metimes.com/articles/normal.php?StoryID=20060206-081448-7380r}}</ref> The Danish embassy in ] was also torched.<ref>{{cite news| title=Why Democracy? - Bloody Cartoons|publisher=BBC|date October 2007|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03OhSgLlETY}}</ref> Altogether, at least 139 people were killed in protests, most due to police firing on the crowds,<ref>{{cite news|date=]| title=Cartoon Body Count|publisher=Web|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20060326071135/http://www.cartoonbodycount.com/}}</ref> mainly in Nigeria, Libya, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Several ]s and reward offers for killing those responsible for the cartoons were made,<ref>{{cite web|title=Another Bounty on 12 Cartoonists’ Heads|publisher=Agora|url=
http://agora.blogsome.com/2006/03/12/another-bounty-on-12-cartoonists-heads|date=]}} </ref> resulting in the cartoonists going into hiding.<ref></ref> Four ministers have resigned amidst the controversy, among them ] and ].<ref>{{cite news|date=]|title=Libya suspends minister over riot|publisher=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4727810.stm}}</ref> In India, Haji Yaqoob Qureishi, a minister in the ] state government, announced in February 2006 a cash reward of Rs 51 crore (roughly about US$11 million) for anyone who beheads "the Danish cartoonist" who caricatured Prophet Mohammad.<ref></ref><ref></ref><ref></ref>
Subsequently, a case was filed against Haji Yaqoob Qureishi in the ] district court in Uttar Pradesh and demands were made for his dismissal by eminent Muslim scholars in ].<ref></ref> ], ] accused Iran and Syria of ] in Iran, Syria and Lebanon.<ref></ref>

The Western media dubbed the series of demonstrations organized in February 2006 by certain Middle Eastern governments and radical clerics as the "Cartoon Intifada".<ref>http://www.townhall.com/opinion/columns/cliffordmay/2006/02/09/185968.html The Cartoon Intifada by Clifford D. May</ref>

On 9 September 2006, the BBC News reported that the Muslim boycott of Danish goods had reduced Denmark's total exports by 15.5% between February and June. This was attributed to a decline in Middle East exports by approximately 50%. "The cost to Danish businesses was around 134 million euros ($170m), when compared with the same period last year, the statistics showed."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5329642.stm|title=Cartoons row hits Danish exports|publisher=]|date=2006-09-09|accessdate=2006-09-09}}</ref> However, the ''Guardian'' newspaper in the UK also reported, "While Danish milk products were dumped in the Middle East, fervent rightwing Americans started buying ] stereos and ]. In the first quarter of this year Denmark’s exports to the US soared 17%."<ref></ref>
{{-}}

===Further police investigations (2006 - 2007)===
* The French/Algerian journalist ]<ref></ref> secretly filmed<ref>{{cite news|date=]|title=Video footage of the French TV documentary|publisher=TV2|url=http://www.savefile.com/files.php?fid=6735165}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=]|title=Video footage of Abu Laban|publisher=Denmark radio|url=http://www.dr.dk/Forms/Published/PlaylistGen.aspx?qid=176564}}</ref> ], spokesman for the group of Danish Imams that toured the Middle East, in conversation with Sheikh Raed Hlayhel (head of the 2nd delegation), speculating that if MP ] ever became a minister, that two men would show up and have him and his ministry bombed.<ref>{{cite news|language=da|date=]|title=Tvivl om oversættelse af Akkari|publisher=Denmark radio|url=http://www.dr.dk/Nyheder/Indland/2006/03/23/105907.htm}}</ref> ] was also filmed talking about a man who wants "to wreak absolute havoc" and "wants to join the fray and turn it into a ] right now."<ref>{{cite news|date=]|title=Danish Imam Reveals `Martyr Action' Plot, Danmarks Radio Says|publisher=Bloomberg|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000085&sid=aV6jPyhgfzL0&refer=europe}}</ref> Akkari initially denied the remarks, then explained he was only ].<ref>{{cite news|date=]|title=Danish police to probe imam's bomb threats|publisher=Reuters|url=http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2006-03-23T164714Z_01_L2397527_RTRUKOC_0_UK-RELIGION-DENMARK-THREATS.xml&archived=False}}</ref> Both men were investigated, but no charges were brought.
* Police in ] overwhelmed ], a student from Pakistan, as he entered the office building of ] newspaper, armed with a large knife. Cheema admitted to trying to kill editor Roger Köppel for reprinting the Mohammad cartoons in the newspaper. On 3 May 2006, Cheema ] in his ]. Cheema's family and Pakistani media claim he was tortured to death.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/0,1518,414669,00.html|title=Selbstmord nach versuchtem Angriff auf Chefredakteur der "Welt"|publisher=]|date=5 May 2006}}.</ref> 30,000 people attended Cheema's funeral near ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://in.news.yahoo.com/060513/137/6480q.html|title=Up to 30,000 mourn Pakistani who died in German jail|publisher=Reuters/Yahoo|date=13 May 2006}}.</ref>
* Two ] were discovered in trains near the German towns of ] and ], undetonated due to an assembly error. Video footage from ] ], where the bombs were put on the trains, led to the arrest of two Lebanese students in Germany, Youssef el-Hajdib and Jihad Hamad, and subsequently of three suspected co-conspirators in Lebanon.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lebanon arrests fourth suspect in German bomb case|org=BBC|url=http://today.reuters.com/News/CrisesArticle.aspx?storyId=L02136965}}</ref> On 1 September 2006, Jörg Ziercke, head of the ] (Federal Police), reports that the suspects saw the Muhammad cartoons as an "assault by the West on Islam" and the "initial spark" for the attack, originally planned to coincide with the ].<ref>{{cite news|title= Suspects behind failed German train bombings motivated Prophet Muhammad cartoons: investigator|org=International Herald Tribune|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/09/02/europe/EU_GEN_Germany_Terrorism_Investigation.php}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Bahn-Anschläge schon zur Fußball-WM geplant|org=Spiegel|url=http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/0,1518,434812,00.html}}</ref> One of the suspects, Youssef el-Hajdib, was arrested heading to Denmark. Police found the ] of ], the leader of the Danish Imams' first cartoon-related delegation to the Middle East, in Hadjib's pockets. Abu Bashar denies knowing al-Hajdib.<ref>{{cite news|title=9 arrested by Denmark in reported terror plot|org=International Heral Tribune|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/09/05/news/denmark.php}}</ref>
* A ] on 3 February 2006 resulted in four young British Muslim men being sentenced to four to six years prison each for attempting to incite murder and terrorism.<ref name='BBC 2007-07-19'>{{cite news | first=Dominic | last=Casciani | coauthors= | title=The angry young men jailed over protest | date=2007-07-19 | publisher=BBC | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6903445.stm | work =BBC News | pages = | accessdate = 2007-09-29 | language = }}</ref>
* On 2 October 2007 during the ongoing trial of four terror suspects arrested in Denmark, known as the ], one of the accused testified that ] culture editor ] was the target of a terror bombing the group had planned. According to the suspect, they were considering sending a remote-controlled car packed with explosives into the private residence of the editor. Threats were also allegedly made towards Danish ] ], who defended the publication of the cartoons.<ref name='Copenhagen Post 2007-10-04'>{{cite news | title=Newspaper editor was bomb target | date=2007-10-04 | publisher=Copenhagen Post | url =http://jp.dk/arkiv/?id=1118078}}</ref>

===Anniversary flare-up (September 2006)===
{{wikinews|New agitations over cartoons of Prophet Mohammed}}
One year after the publication of the original cartoons, a video surfaced showing members of the ] youth wing engaged in a contest of drawing pictures that insult Muhammad. Publicity surrounding the contest led to renewed tension between the Islamic world and Denmark,<ref>{{cite news|title= Anti-Muslim video sparks new outrage against Denmark|org=The Independent|url=http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/article1826296.ece}}</ref> with the OIC and many countries weighing in. The Danish government condemned the youths, and those who were depicted in the video went into hiding after receiving death threats.

Two weeks into this episode, a Danish ]s' group, "Defending Denmark", claimed responsibility for the video and said it had ] the Danish People's Party Youth for 18 months claiming "to document (their) ] wing associations".<ref>{{cite news|title=Web sites remove videos mocking Muhammad|org=AP|url= http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061010/ap_on_re_eu/denmark_prophet_drawings}}</ref>

A few days later a new episode surfaced, when a member of the ] stated, that members of the movement had also drawn pictures of Muhammad during a weekend meeting. Unlike the Danish People's Party Youth's drawings, this episode was not condoned by the youth movement, but was done by individuals.

All four videos of the controversy can be seen .

===February 2008 death threat and resultant reprinting===
{{wikinews|Danish police arrest three in cartoonist murder plot}}
On 12 February 2008, Danish police arrested three men (two ]ns and one Danish national originally from Morocco) suspected of planning to assassinate ], the cartoonist who drew the '']'' cartoon. Shortly afterwards, the Dane was released without charge; the two Tunisians were not charged either, but expelled to Tunisia. Despite this, Westergaard has since been under police protection. He has said he is angry that a "perfectly normal everyday activity which I used to do by the thousand was abused to set off such madness."<ref name='BT 2008-02-12'>{{cite news | title=Murder plot against Danish cartoonist | date=2008-02-11 | publisher=Jyllands-Posten | url =http://jp.dk/uknews/article1263133.ece}}</ref><ref></ref>

The next day, 13 February 2008, ''Jyllands-Posten'', and many other Danish newspapers including '']'' and '']'', reprinted Westergaard's ''Bomb in the Turban'' cartoon, as a statement of commitment to freedom of speech.<ref>{{cite news|title=Danish Muhammad cartoon reprinted|org=BBC|work=BBC News|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7242258.stm|accessdate=2008-02-13}}</ref> The liberal newspaper ''Politiken'' had been critical of the original publication of the cartoons, but reprinted this one now as a gesture of solidarity in the face of a specific threat.<ref>{{cite news|title=Danish papers republish Prophet cartoon|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUKL139371220080213|work=] UK|date=2008-02-13|accessdate=2008-02-14}}</ref>

In Denmark, some public disturbances with burnt-out cars<ref>{{cite news|url=http://politiken.dk/indland/article471690.ece|title=Brande og uroligheder bredte sig til flere byer|publisher=]|language=Danish|date=]|accessdate=2008-02-15}}</ref> and a school set ablaze<ref>{{cite news|url=http://politiken.dk/indland/article471705.ece|title=Ni klasseværelser brændte ned på én nat|publisher=]|language=Danish|date=]|accessdate=2008-02-15}}</ref> has followed these events, but the police are unsure if it is directly related to the cartoons controversy or the fact that the two Tunisians were subsequently sentenced to deportation without a trial.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://politiken.dk/indland/article470626.ece|title=Mistænkt i Muhammedsag løsladt igen|publisher=]|date=]|accessdate=2008-02-15|language=Danish}}</ref><ref name='BBC 2008-02-15'>{{cite news | first=Frances | last=Harrison | coauthors= | title=Danish Muslims in cartoon protest | date=] | publisher= | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7247817.stm | work =BBC News | pages = | accessdate = 2008-02-16 | language = }}</ref> Other sources close{{Weasel-inline}} to the origin of the riots in the ] district of Copenhagen said that the riots, which started before the arrests, were wholly unrelated to the cartoons controversy and were rather set off by police harassment of ethnic minorities in areas of Copenhagen,<ref>{{cite news|http://politiken.dk/indland/article472275.ece|title=Politidirektør undersøger sag om politivold|publisher=]|date=]|accessdate=2008-02-16|language=Danish}}</ref> and indeed some disturbances had occurred even in the days preceding the arrests.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://politiken.dk/indland/article471136.ece|title=Fem kræves fængslet efter uro i København|publisher=]|date=]|accessdate=2008-02-15|language=Danish}}</ref> Peaceful demonstrations were held in Copenhagen after Friday prayers, with the flags of ] prominent.<ref></ref>

On 19 February 2008, "] banned editions of four foreign newspapers including the New York-based Wall Street Journal and Britain's The Observer for reprinting the controversial Danish cartoons criticizing the Prophet Muhammad".<ref> article ''Egypt Bans Four Foreign Newspapers Over Republication of Anti-Prophet Cartoons'' published 19 February 2008 </ref>

The events culminated on 2 June 2008 with an attempt to blow up the Danish embassy in ].<ref> Dawn.com</ref>

==Opinions and issues==
{{seealso|Opinions on the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy}}
{{seealso|International reactions to the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy}}
===Danish journalistic tradition===
] was guaranteed in law by the Danish Constitution in 1849, as it is today by The Constitutional Act of Denmark, of 5 June 1953.<ref>{{PDFlink||120&nbsp;KB}} </ref> It is defended vigorously. It was suspended during the German ] in ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.besaettelse-befrielse.dk/leksikon_d.html|title=Dagbladene under besættelsen ((The newspapers during the occupation)|publisher=Historisk Samling fra Besættelsestiden 1940-1945|accessdate=2008-08-02|author=Helle Sejersen}}</ref> Freedom of expression is also protected by the ] and the ].

The ] are privately owned and independent from the government, and Danish freedom of expression is quite far-reaching, even by Western standards. In the past, this has provoked official protests from Germany about printing ] propaganda, and from Russia for "solidarity with terrorists."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2369083.stm| title=Chechen rebels seek talks with Moscow|publisher=BBC News|date=28 October 2002}}</ref> The organization ] ranks Denmark at the top of its Worldwide Press Freedom Index for 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rsf.org/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=554|publisher=Reporters Without Borders|title=World Press Freedom Index, 2005}}</ref>

Religion is often portrayed in ways that some other societies may consider illegal blasphemy.<ref></ref><ref> on Internet Movie Database</ref><ref></ref> While '']'' has published ] cartoons depicting Christian figures,<ref></ref> it also rejected unsolicited ] cartoons in 2003 which depicted Jesus,<ref></ref> opening them to accusations of a ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,1703501,00.html|title=Danish paper rejected Jesus cartoons|publisher=The Guardian|date=6 February 2006|author=Gwladys Fouché}}</ref> In February 2006, ''Jyllands-Posten'' also refused to publish ] offered by an Iranian newspaper.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jp.dk/login?url=english_news/artikel:aid=3548990|title=
No Holocaust Cartoons in Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten|publisher=''Jyllands-Posten''|date=2006-02-09|accessdate=2006-09-17}}</ref><ref></ref> Six of the less controversial entries were later published by '']'', after the editors consulted the main rabbi in Copenhagen,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5327852.stm|title=Paper reprints Holocaust cartoons|publisher=]|date=2006-09-08|accessdate=2006-09-08}}</ref> and three cartoons were in fact later reprinted in ''Jyllands-Posten''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jp.dk/login?url=kultur/artikel:aid=3961206|title=
Holocaust-konkurrence flopper|publisher=''Jyllands-Posten''|date=2006-09-15|accessdate=2006-09-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://eavis.jp.dk/Arkiv/16-09-2006/demo/JP_01-16_17.html|title=
Holocaust-konkurrence flopper (p. 16)|publisher=''Jyllands-Posten''|date=2006-09-16|accessdate=2006-09-17}}</ref> After the competition had finished, ''Jyllands-Posten'' also reprinted the winning and ] cartoons.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://eavis.jp.dk/Arkiv/03-11-2006/demo/JP_01-20_21.html|title=
Iran varsler endnu flere Holocaust-konkurrencer (p. 20)|publisher=''Jyllands-Posten''|date=2006-11-03|accessdate=2006-11-05}}</ref>

===Muslim tradition===
====Aniconism====
{{main|Aniconism in Islam|Depictions of Muhammad}}

] styled ] ] calligraphy.]]
Owing to the traditions of ] in Islam, the majority of ] concerning Muhammad is ] in nature. The ] condemns ], and pictoral forms are seen as ostensibly close to idol worship. These are found in A] : ''"] reported Allah’s Messenger (]) having said: Those who paint pictures would be punished on the Day of ] and it would be said to them: Breathe ] into what you have created."''<ref></ref><ref></ref><ref></ref><ref></ref>
] ]. Found in the ] by ], at the ] library; ] 1315.]]
Within Muslim communities, views have varied regarding pictorial representations. ] has been generally tolerant of pictorial representations of human figures, including Muhammad.<ref></ref> Contemporary ] generally forbids any pictorial representation of Muhammad,<ref></ref> but has had periods allowing depictions of Muhammad's face covered with a veil or as a featureless void emanating light.
A few contemporary interpretations of Islam, such as some adherents of ] and ], are entirely ] and condemn pictorial representations of any kind.
The ], while in power in ], banned television, photographs and images in newspapers and destroyed paintings including ]es in the vicinity of the ].<ref></ref>

====Prohibition against insulting Muhammad====
In Muslim societies, insulting the Islamic prophet Muhammad is considered one of the gravest of all crimes. Some interpretations of the ], in particular the relatively fringe ] (Wahabi) group, state that any insult to Muhammad warrants death.<ref>{{cite news|title=Question #22809: Ruling on one who insults the Prophet |publisher=Islam Q & A |url=http://www.islam-qa.com/index.php?ln=eng&ds=qa&lv=browse&QR=22809&dgn=4}}</ref>

However, the ] has denounced calls for the death of the Danish cartoonists. OIC's Secretary General ] stated in a press release:
<blockquote>
''The Secretary General appeals to the Muslims to stay calm and peaceful in the wake of sacrilegious depiction of Prophet Muhammad (]) which has deeply hurt their feelings. He has stated that Islam being the religion of tolerance, mercy and peace teaches them to defend their faith through democratic and legal means.''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oic-oci.org/press/english/2006/January%202006/denemark-3.htm|title=Statement by H.E. Prof Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu Secretary General of the OIC|date=28 January 2006||author=]}}</ref>
</blockquote>

===Associating Islam with terrorism===
Many Muslims have explained their anti-cartoon stance as against ''insulting'' pictures and not so much as against pictures in ''general''. According to the ]:

{{quotation|It is the satirical intent of the cartoonists and the association of the Prophet with terrorism, that is so offensive to the vast majority of Muslims.|<ref>{{cite news|first=Magdi|last=Abdelhadi|title=Cartoon row highlights deep divisions|date=4 February 2006|publisher=]|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4678220.stm}}</ref>}}

{{quotation|Why is the insult so deeply felt by some Muslims? Of course, there is the prohibition on images of Muhammad. But one cartoon, showing the Prophet wearing a turban shaped as a bomb with a burning fuse, extends the caricature of Muslims as terrorists to Muhammad. In this image, Muslims see a depiction of Islam, its prophet and Muslims in general as terrorists. This will certainly play into a widespread perception among Muslims across the world that many in the West harbour a hostility towards &ndash; or fear of &ndash; Islam and Muslims.|<ref>{{cite news|title=Q&A: Depicting the Prophet Muhammad|date=2 February 2006|publisher=]|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4674864.stm}}</ref>}}

===Islamism and accusations of xenophobia===
{{main|Muslims in Western Europe|Multiculturalism}}
] has recently been characterized as a problem in Europe,<ref>{{cite news|date=27 February 2006|title=Europe vs. Radical Islam by ] |publisher=Policy Review |url=http://www.slate.com/id/2136964/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=4 December 2004|title=Stoned to death... why Europe is starting to lose its faith in Islam |publisher=Times Online|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-1387077,00.html}}</ref> while disillusionment with ] is on the rise in Denmark.<ref>{{cite news|date=1 December 2000|title=Denmark, the Euro, and fear of the Foreign |publisher=Policy Review |url=http://www.policyreview.org/dec00/Bering.html}}</ref> This was further fuelled by ] stating that "the number of Muslims is expanding like mosquitoes."<ref>{{cite news|date=]|title=
Krekar claims Islam will win|url=
http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article1247400.ece|publisher=Aftenposten (English Edition)}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=]|title=Libyan Leader Mu'ammar Al-Qadhafi: Europe and the U.S. Should Agree to Become Islamic or Declare War on the Muslims|url= http://www.memritv.org/Transcript.asp?P1=1121|publisher=Middle East Research Institute}}</ref> The ] ], on the other hand, saw ] and ] in Europe as the root of the controversy,<ref>{{cite news|date=13 February 2006|title=Racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and all forms of discrimination (E/CN.4/2006/17)|publisher=UNCHR |url=http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?m=92}}</ref> particularly singling out Denmark.<ref>{{cite news|date=15 February 2006|title=Denmark's new values |publisher=Guardian |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1709754,00.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=3 February 2001|title=Second reprt on Denmark |publisher=European Commission against Racism and Intolerance |url=http://www.coe.int/t/e/human_rights/ecri/1-ecri/2-country-by-country_approach/Denmark/Denmark_CBC_2.asp}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=1 June 2001|title=Cultural racism: something rotten in the state of Denmark? |publisher=Social & Cultural Geography, Volume 2, Number 2, Karen Wren |url=http://taylorandfrancis.metapress.com/link.asp?id=fvw7tvjel8rqq04j}}</ref>

===Allegations of "agendas"===
====Agendas in the West====
Some commentators see the publications of the cartoons and the riots that took place in response, as part of a coordinated effort to show Muslims and Islam in a bad light, thus influencing public opinion in the West in aid of various political projects, for example to support further military intervention in the Middle East.<ref>{{cite news|date=23 March 2006|title=Islam and globanalisation|publisher=Al-Ahram|url=http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-22/0601317044194736.htm}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=23 March 2006|title=Rotten in Denmark |publisher=antiwar|url=http://antiwar.com/justin/?articleid=8512}}</ref> Most commentators in Europe framed the dispute as one between Islam and freedom of expression, which was a useful banner "under which the most diverse sectors of society can unite in the name of ‘European values’: ]s and ]s, ]s and ]s, ]s and ]s, ] activists and consumption-oriented ]s."{{Fact|date=September 2008}}

The controversy was used to highlight a supposedly irreconcilable rift between Europeans and Islam - as the journalist Andrew Mueller put it: "I am concerned that the ridiculous, disproportionate reaction to some unfunny sketches in an obscure Scandinavian newspaper may confirm that ... Islam and the West are fundamentally irreconcilable"<ref>Cited in The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins (2006) - p26</ref> - and many demonstrations in the Middle-East were encouraged by the regimes there for their own purposes. Different groups used this tactic for different purposes, some more explicitly than others: for example ] groups, nationalists, feminists, ] and national governments.<ref>{{cite news|date=May/June 2006|title=‘The journalists of Jyllands-Posten are a bunch of reactionary provocateurs’ The Danish cartoon controversy and the self-image of Europe |publisher=Radical Phillosophy|author= Heiko Henkel|url=http://www.radicalphilosophy.com/default.asp?channel_id=2187&editorial_id=21398}}</ref>

Muslim critics have also accused the West, in particular the EU, of double standards in adopting laws that outlaw ]. Denmark, along with Britain and Sweden, have particularly libertarian traditions concerning Holocaust denial and pressed for wording in a recent EU legislation that would avoid criminalizing debates about the Holocaust and would ensure that films and plays about the Holocaust would not be censored.<ref>{{cite news|date=]|title=EU adopts measure outlawing Holocaust denial |publisher=International Herald Tribune|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/04/19/news/eu.php}}</ref>

====Alleged Zionist agenda====
Among others,<ref>{{cite news|date=2 March 2006|title=Qatari University Lecturer Ali Muhi Al-Din Al-Qardaghi: Muhammad Cartoon Is a Jewish Attempt to Divert European Hatred from Jews to Muslims|publisher=Al-Jazeera/MemriTV|url=http://www.memritv.org/Transcript.asp?P1=1030}}</ref> ]'s supreme leader Ayatollah ] blamed a "Zionist ]" for the row over the cartoons.<ref>{{cite news|date=7 February 2006|title=Cartoons 'part of Zionist plot'|publisher=Guardian|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/cartoonprotests/story/0,,1704174,00.html}}</ref> The ] envoy to Washington alleged the ] party concocted distribution of Muhammad caricatures worldwide in a bid to create a clash between the West and the Muslim world.<ref>{{cite news|date=13 February 2006|title=PA: Likud behind Muhammad cartoons|publisher=ynet|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3215284,00.html}}</ref>

====Islamist or Middle East regime agendas====
Other commentators see ] jockeying for influence<ref>{{cite news|date=20 February 2006|title=The Cartoon Jihad-The Muslim Brotherhood's project for dominating the West.|publisher=Weekly Standard|url=http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/006/704xewyj.asp?pg=1}}</ref> both in Europe<ref>{{cite news|date=23 February 2006|title=Behind the cartoon war: radical clerics competing for followers|publisher=Christian Science Monitor|url=
http://csmweb2.emcweb.com/2006/0223/p09s01-coop.html?s=widep
}}</ref> and the ],<ref>{{cite news|date=23 March 2006|title=
Islamic Activism Sweeps Saudi Arabia|publisher=Washington Post|url=
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/22/AR2006032202305.html}}</ref> who tried (unsuccessfully) to widen the split between the USA and Europe, and simultaneously bridge the split between the ] and the ].<ref>{{cite news|date=7 February 2006|title=The Cartoon Backlash: Redefining Alignments|publisher=Stratfor|url=http://www.stratfor.com/products/premium/read_article.php?id=261960}}</ref>
<!--
===Middle Eastern regimes' involvement===
-->

Regimes in the Middle East have been accused of taking advantage of the controversy, and adding to it, in order to demonstrate their Islamic credentials, distracting from their failures by setting up an external enemy,<ref>{{cite news|date=8 February 2006|title=Cartoons Tap Into Deep-Seated Grievances|publisher=Forbes|url=http://www.forbes.com/business/2006/02/27/middle-east-cartoons_cx_0227oxford.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=1 February 2006|title=En uhellig alliance har bragt konflikten om det hellige ud af kontrol«|publisher=Information|url=http://www.information.dk/InfWebsite/FremvisningPHP/Webavis/WAvPrint.php?pWAvVis=1241}} {{da icon}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=9 February 2006|title=Opportunists Make Use of Cartoon Protests|publisher=Washington Times|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/08/AR2006020802296_pf.html}}</ref> and "(using) the cartoons as a way of showing that the expansion of freedom and democracy in their countries would lead inevitably to the denigration of Islam."<ref>{{cite news|date=11 February 2006|title=Clash of Civilization|publisher=WallStreetJournal|url=http://www.opinionjournal.com/weekend/hottopic/?id=110007956}}</ref> ] announced a Holocaust Conference, supported<ref>{{cite news|date=16 February 2006|title= Iran plans Holocaust conference|publisher=CNN|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/01/15/iran.holocaust/}}</ref> by the ], to uncover what he called the "myth" used to justify the creation of Israel.<ref>{{cite news|date=16 January 2006|title=Tehran faces backlash over conference to question Holocaust |publisher=Guardian|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/iran/story/0,12858,1687134,00.html}}</ref> Ahmadinejad started voicing doubt about the veracity of the holocaust at the same<ref>{{cite news|date=16 January 2006|title=Iranian president says Israel should be moved to Europe |publisher=USAToday|url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2005-12-09-iran-israel_x.htm}}</ref> ] conference in Mecca that served to spread the ] to leaders of the Muslim world.<ref>{{cite news|title= How a meeting of leaders in Mecca set off the cartoon wars around the world|publisher=The Independent|date=]|url=http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/article344482.ece}}</ref>

====Russian agenda====
A few people in the intelligence community have laid the blame for the controversy at the feet of Russia, alleging that the publication of the cartoon and subsequent protests were examples of ] by Russian intelligence agencies, aimed at fomenting tensions between the Islamic world and the West. Proponents of this theory include historian ] at the ]. He cites former KGB general ] as noting that Jyllands-Posten editor ] spent much time in Moscow and "published a spate of obviously government-sponsored, anti-Chechen articles." Similarly, famed ] defector ] noted that Rose is "married to the daughter of an ex-KGB officer." Peter Earnest, a former CIA clandestine service officer in the Middle East, also remarked about the suspicious connections that the Russian secret services had to the incident.<ref> October 2006, AIRSHO magazine</ref>

===Alleged political correctness===
Critics of ] see the cartoon controversy as a sign that attempts at judicial codification of such concepts as ], ] and ] have backfired on their advocates, "leaving them without a leg to stand on"<ref>{{cite news|date=13 February 2006|title=Respectful Cultures & Disrespectful Cartoons|publisher=Counterpunch News|url=http://www.counterpunch.org/neumann02132006.html}}</ref> and in retreat again:

{{quotation|The issue will almost certainly lead to a revisiting of the lamentable laws against "hate speech" in Europe, and with any luck to a debate on whether these laws are more likely to destroy public harmony than encourage it. Muslim activists are finding out why getting into a negative-publicity fight is as inadvisable as wrestling with a pig: You get dirty and the pig enjoys it.|<ref>{{cite news|date=13 February 2006|title=The Mountain Comes to Muhammad|publisher=Reason Magazine|url=http://www.reason.com/links/links020306.shtml}}</ref>}}

==In popular culture==
The '']'' episodes "]" and "] parodied this event.

==Comparable references==
{{main|Freedom of speech versus blasphemy}}

Numerous comparisons have been offered in public discourse comparing earlier controversies over freedom of speech and art with the controversy that surrounded the ''Jyllands-Posten'' cartoons. Some examples include:
* '']'' (book, 2005, Greece)
* '']'' (musical, 2005, Britain)
* '']'' (TV, 2005, United States, New Zealand, and Australia)
* ''] (play, 2004, United Kingdom)''
* '']'' (short film, 2004, Netherlands)
* '']'' (installation, 2004, Sweden)
* '']'' (exhibition, 2000, Europe)
* '']'' (exhibition, 1999, London and New York)
* '']'' (play, 1998, United States)
* '']'' (frieze, 1997, Washington D.C.)
* '']'' (drawing, 1997, Israel)
* '']'' (newspaper, 1994, Bangladesh)
* '']'' (photo, 1989, United States)
* '']'' (novel, 1988, Global)
* '']'' (film, 1988, United States and Europe)
* '']'' (court case, 1985, India)
* '']'' (film, 1979, United States and Europe)
* '']'' (poem, 1977, United Kingdom)
* '']'' (film, 1977, United States, Libya, UK and Lebanon)

And a later controversy:
* '']'' (cartoons, 2008, The Netherlands)

==See also==
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ] - the ] newspaper's controversial cartoon in response to the Danish embassy bombing in 2008
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ] - Egyptian pop singer with the anti-Danish song "We’re All Out of Patience"
* ]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
===Primary sources===
* {{PDFlink||74.5&nbsp;KB}}
* {{PDFlink||545&nbsp;KB}}
* {{PDFlink||18.2&nbsp;KB}}
* Second ] to the Muslims of Saudi Arabia from Jyllands-Posten
** {{PDFlink||68.7&nbsp;KB}}
**
*
* {{PDFlink|1=|2=85.9&nbsp;KB}}
* (in Danish)
====Islamic views====
* signed by many .
* by Muslim Writer
*
*
* , ]
* (op-ed by the publisher of the English-language ''Yemen Observer'' newspaper), ]
* A declaration condemning the drawings from Denmark and Norway against Mohammad.
* by Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi, head of ]
* by Ana Belén Soage, ''Totalitarian Movements and Political Religions'' 7(3).

====Non-Islamic views====
* (''What next, distant bearded one?'') by ], '']'', 6 February 2006 {{de icon}} - at signandsight.com
* by ], ]
* by ], ], 2 July 2006
* , see ] and ] (video - hosted on youtube.com)

===Press reviews===
*
*
*
*
* a European press review at signandsight.com

===Video===
*
*
* on Danish ] ''Deadline''
*
* at ] by Shahab Ahmed, Jocelyne Cesari, Father J. Bryan Hehir, Dr. Joseph S. Nye Jr. (] stream)
* on the French magazine, Charlie Hebdo, that reprinted the cartoons of the prophet Mohammed being cleared of defamation.
* A ] documentary from October 2007 on the cartoon affair, including many interviews with the major protagonists.

===Images===
{{Commons|Muhammad}}
*
*
*
*
*

===Other sources===
* A mashup displaying places where protests, riots and fatalities occurred during the Mohamed cartoons row
* by ] of the ]
* by ]

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Revision as of 15:37, 22 October 2008