User:Netscott/JPMCC
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy began after twelve editorial cartoons, most of which depicted the Islamic prophet Muhammad, were published in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten on 2005-09-30. The newspaper announced that this publication was an attempt to contribute to the debate regarding criticism of Islam and self-censorship.
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In response, Danish Muslim organizations held public protests and spread knowledge of Jyllands-Posten's publication thereby igniting the controversy. As it grew, examples of the cartoons were reprinted in newspapers in more than fifty other countries, which led to numerous death threats, attempted murder, bounties placed upon the heads of the cartoonists by Islamic leaders and numerous protests both peaceful and violent with some including rioting particularly in the Muslim world.
Critics of the cartoons described them as Islamophobic or racist,[1] and argue that they are blasphemous to people of the Muslim faith, intended to humiliate a Danish minority, or are a manifestation of ignorance about the history of western imperialism, from colonialism to the current conflicts in the Middle East.[2]
Supporters of the cartoons said they've illustrated an important issue in a period of Islamist terrorism and that their publication is a legitimate exercise of the right of free speech. They also claim that similar cartoons about other religions are frequently printed, arguing that the followers of Islam were not targeted in a discriminatory way.[3]
Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen described the controversy as Denmark's worst international crisis since World War II.[4]