2008 Woodie Awards
No censorship in the name of Islam
Samuel Bosch
Issue date: 3/19/06 Section: Perspectives
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In Sept. 2005, ten Danish cartoonists inked caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad. Months after the 12 cartoons were printed controversy had grown. Some or all of the cartoons have been reprinted in newspapers in more than 50 other countries, resulting in violent protest particulary in Muslim countries, France and England included. Various critics have different views and perceptions of who and what may have been offended or targeted.
As a result of the riots, the irony lies in many people's minds on how sensitive yet destructive those who participated in the riots are. Some question if the religion of Islam is no longer the "Religion of Peace", as it has been known to be
There are both good and bad Muslims in this world, and it would be provincial to think otherwise. However, this hyper-reaction by the few bad apples is damaging Islam's respectability and reputation as a prominent religion.
The Quran is continuously being interpreted by clerics throughout the world. The idea that Muhammad cannot be drawn is a recent and radical interpretation.
Before this modern Jihad against the west began, Muslims were creative and very skilled artistically; not violent and destructive. One of Iran's most revered artists, Soltan Mohammad, painted Me'raj one thousand years ago. This image depicted the Prophet Muhammad's ascension to heaven.
The fact that this painting is celebrated as a masterpiece baffles me. On May 13, 2005, Soltan Mohammad is praised as a great painter in a conference held by Ahmad Masjed-Jamei, Iran's Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance.
On one hand, drawing the Prophet Muhammad is strictly forbidden in the Quran, and on the other hand you can do it if it doesn't offend Islam. This accepted level of hypocrisy is despicable.
The Danish cartoonists were only exercising their right of free press which is a right granted to all within journalism. What they tried to do was to portray how they view the Prophet Muhammad and Islam.
As a result of the riots, the irony lies in many people's minds on how sensitive yet destructive those who participated in the riots are. Some question if the religion of Islam is no longer the "Religion of Peace", as it has been known to be
There are both good and bad Muslims in this world, and it would be provincial to think otherwise. However, this hyper-reaction by the few bad apples is damaging Islam's respectability and reputation as a prominent religion.
The Quran is continuously being interpreted by clerics throughout the world. The idea that Muhammad cannot be drawn is a recent and radical interpretation.
Before this modern Jihad against the west began, Muslims were creative and very skilled artistically; not violent and destructive. One of Iran's most revered artists, Soltan Mohammad, painted Me'raj one thousand years ago. This image depicted the Prophet Muhammad's ascension to heaven.
The fact that this painting is celebrated as a masterpiece baffles me. On May 13, 2005, Soltan Mohammad is praised as a great painter in a conference held by Ahmad Masjed-Jamei, Iran's Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance.
On one hand, drawing the Prophet Muhammad is strictly forbidden in the Quran, and on the other hand you can do it if it doesn't offend Islam. This accepted level of hypocrisy is despicable.
The Danish cartoonists were only exercising their right of free press which is a right granted to all within journalism. What they tried to do was to portray how they view the Prophet Muhammad and Islam.