Islamic attacks on free expression intensify; arrests in Vilks arson case

As Draw Muhammad Day approaches, attacks by Islamic fundamentalists — and moderates — on those who would draw or say things they don’t like are intensifying.

Lars Vilks drew Muhammad with a dog's body. Or maybe it's a camel.

This year, Vilks courted controversy again by showing in a lecture — not making, not drawing, but showing – an Iranian film which included a scene showing Muhammad in a gay bar. He was physically attacked by protesters shouting “Allahu Akbar”, or “God is great”. One protester broke Vilks’ glasses.

The great and powerful Allah must be relieved that he has mobs to defend him from movies and cartoons by breaking a man’s glasses.

While Vilks refuses to be silenced by terrorists, Uppsala University has acquiesced. They have announced that they will “not likely” have Mr. Vilks return because of the incident.

Recently, Comedy Central refused to air an episode of South Park which depicted Muhammad in a bear suit. Less commonly reported, the Metropolitan Museum of Art pulled an exhibition of artworks depicting Mohammad to avoid offending Muslims, and Yale University Press refused to allow Jytte Klausen to republish several of the Danish Muhammad cartoons in her book, “The Cartoons that Shook the World”.

One would think those cartoons rather integral to the book, no?

Klausen comments on the Vilks issue:

This is about a political movement by sectarian groups where [depicting Mohammed] has now become a primary trigger for political contention. The university pretty much told [Vilks] to shut up and go talk somewhere else, and I find that reaction very dangerous and problematic. It means that the extremists have achieved what they wanted.

Days after the lecture attack, two extremists tried to torch Vilks’ home. They were unsuccessful; nobody was home, and the fire put itself out without causing significant damage.

Is Allah trying to send a message to his followers? The police are, having arrested two Swedish nationals of Kosovo origin:

Both suspects, aged 21 and 19, are Swedish nationals of Kosovar origin who reside in the southern city of Landskrona and who were arrested after personal items were found near the scene, police said.

“They were both unknown to the police,” Scania district police spokesman Calle Paersson told AFP.

The 21-year-old was arrested on Saturday at his home, while his 19-year-old accomplice was arrested yesterday.

The suspects, whose names have not been made public, were due to see a judge on Monday who will decide whether or not to charge them.

PZ Myers comments on the Vilks attacks:

I would encourage Muslims to respond in kind, with their own cartoons lampooning Vilks (it shouldn’t be hard; the article about the arson has a picture of Vilks that looks rather deranged already). But when you respond to an insult to your beliefs with violence and destruction, you have moved beyond the boundaries of civilization, straight into barbarism, and you will get no sympathy from me.

Secularists across the nation are leading the charge to support free expression in the face of intimidation, standing up to both terrorists and the politically-correct police, championing “Everybody Draw Muhammad Day”.

Molly Norris, the Seattle cartoonist who first suggested Everybody Draw Mohammad (sp) Day, backed down as soon as it became controversial. Perhaps she received a death threat. Maybe she just read up a little more on what was happening to the “Motoonists”.

The movement has been taken up by people on Facebook, secularists everywhere, and even a distinct website, drawmuhammadday.com:

I will pool all the images and on the morning of May 20, 2010, will publish an image gallery containing all appropriate images for the world to see.

Take your time and think long and hard about how you want to depict Muhammad. The best entries will be featured in a separate gallery at the top of the page. There are some ground rules for the depiction of Muhammad however.

Keep it clean. This is about proving that this is America and, in America, we don’t back down when threatned. Showing the world that we’re not afraid to depict Muhammad is the point, not use it for your personal/political/religious message.

Please make sure your name/initials/signature is inscribed in the image. Since these will be posted for anyone to freely view or keep, I think it’s important that we keep credit where credit is due. This is, however, totally up to you. Just don’t get mad if you didn’t put your initials in an image and you see it floating around the internet.

Secularist support

“Friendly Atheist” Hemant Mehta draws an analogy to explain his position:

You never hear about Hindus walking into McDonald’s and telling the manager they’re not allowed to use beef products anymore.

If they did, we would laugh it off. We’d say that’s absurd because non-Hindus don’t have to follow their rules.

But what if the Hindu radicals committed a violent act against the manager? We’d be furious.

What if moderate Hindus said it was offensive for someone else to eat a Big Mac? We’d say that’s crazy.

In response to all that, I think it would be perfectly appropriate to stage a peaceful sit-in where all participants ate Big Macs.

It wouldn’t be anti-Hinduism nor would anyone be purposely trying to piss off Hindus by doing that. It would just be a show of solidarity by those who believe that only Hindus need to abide by their religious beliefs, not anyone else.

David Silverman, VP of American Atheists, expresses a different sentiment; offense that all the so-called “moderate Muslims” are nowhere to be found:

There’s been a lot of talk about Draw Muhammad Day recently, including some attacks on yours truly for supporting and participating in it. Their main accusation is that I am making enemies, when I should be trying to make friends.

For the record, my email is NOT flooded with letters from peace-loving Muslims who want to make friends, and who disavow censorship even if they are the object of offensive speech (like most atheists are). Peace-loving Muslims who want nothing more than to live in a free society where ideas are exchanged freely are NOT rallying in the streets now, standing up for anyone’s rights. In fact, they are nowhere to be seen or heard. Doesn’t anyone have a problem with that? Where are the “Muslims for freedom” rallies?

I guess Revolution Muslim is all alone — they’re the only ones? Plus the NY terrorist — he was alone? I guess the students who erupted in violence “by the dozen” after a teacher showed a drawing in class are the only ones too?

No, people, they are not. There are many who truly intend to make this whole world a theocracy, and those who wish to make friends with those who would not lift a finger to stop it are merely helping the fundamentalists’ cause. As we saw on South Park, and heard from my warm-and-fuzzy friends, it appears some wish us to roll over and let them win. So we can’t mention Muhammad or show a drawing without fear — does anyone really think it ends there?

I don’t care if the Muslims who sit idly by get offended, because they are sitting idly by, when they should be standing up for freedom, even if it means calling Muhammad a pedophile (which he was).

What can I do?

If you’re on Facebook, join the Facebook Page.

On Facebook or not, you can submit your images to drawmuhammadday.com.

You can also send them to Hemant Mehta at the Friendly Atheist.

But I want to send my blasphemous scribblings to you!

Fine. Be that way. If we get more than five images, we’ll place them all in an article post. If we get more than 15 images, we’ll set up a page for them. OK?

Send them to “drawmuhammad at palibandaily dot com”.

This email address will only be used for this purpose, will only be checked on the 18th – 21st, and then will be deleted.

Related articles:

1. IHEU success as Islamic States finally drop their case for ‘defamation of religion’ UN resolution
2. Islamic Lawmaker: Banning child marriage un-Islamic, violates men's rights
3. In Brief: Ad campaign launched in London to improve the image of Islam
4. Muhammad cartoon sparks threats in South Africa
5. In a post-Hussein Iraq, Islamic hardliners gain influence

Jenny Donati is webmistress and co-editor of Secular News Daily. Jenny is an outspoken secularist who believes firmly in the separation of church and state. She demands evidence to support arguments, and holds herself to the same standard. She doesn't write about herself in the third person . . . but there's a first time for everything.

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