Organisation of the Islamic Conference threatens Denmark with trade embargo

[Mr. Blonde]

Several European countries also have laws considering making fun of religion, they hardly get enforced, though. I remember a particular case last year where the Austrian cartoonist Haderer (he also draws for Spiegel afaik) was charged in Greece according to such a law because he published a small cartoon book about the life of Jesus. The charge was dropped later, though. Imo he was not disrespectful to Jesus he rather portrayed him as human being, the cartoonist just had some funny ideas how the Jesus committed wonder stories really happened.

Of course the newspaper can publish anything they want, offended Muslism have the right to boycott Danish products or to burn Danish flags. It is their response to a provocation and it is their way of expressing their opinion. What would not be OK is if muslim states forbid the import of Danish products.

 

[Alpine Trooper]

Each day I wake up I turn on the news in hopes that a couple of nukes were dropped on the Middle East.

Maybe tomorrow.

 

[Winner]

Embargo against Denmark contitutes a declaration of trade war against the EU. So please...try!

 

[oagersnap]

Each day I wake up I turn on the news in hopes that a couple of nukes were dropped on the Middle East.

Maybe tomorrow.

I hope that never happens.
That would just start a nuclear war. And even if it wouldn't, it still wouldn't solve anything. The terrorists would probably escape anyway, so the only ones we'd be doing harm to would be innocent people.

 

[shahreevar]

Each day I wake up I turn on the news in hopes that a couple of nukes were dropped on the Middle East.

Maybe tomorrow.

wow I thought the Canadians were tolerant, intelligent people.

well they are, except you!!!

p.s. i assume you are from Canada, but I kinda wish you weren't.

 

[Elrohir]

If Christians have to put up with people drawing irreverent and stupid cartoons with Jesus in them, then Muslims have to do the same thing with Mohammed. (Anyone remember that Irish billboard showing Jesus gambling with the disciples?) As annoying as it may be, we still need to have free speech, or we don't really live in a free society.

As I see it anyway, if it's genuinely funny then God will probably forgive them, and if it's truly blasphemous then he'll deal with it in his own proper time. Until God calls upon me to be his PR guy, censoring cartoons isn't high on my priority list.

(If you think a cartoon is insensitive, then I don't have anything against you trying to persuade the artist or newspaper not to do that again - but a trade embargo is just nuts)

 

[newfangle]

Embargo against Denmark contitutes a declaration of trade war against the EU. So please...try!

...I was just thinking that.

Anyways, this is yet another example of conflict that involves Islam. (just a coincidence I swear!).

 

[Kyriakos]

Several European countries also have laws considering making fun of religion, they hardly get enforced, though. I remember a particular case last year where the Austrian cartoonist Haderer (he also draws for Spiegel afaik) was charged in Greece according to such a law because he published a small cartoon book about the life of Jesus. The charge was dropped later, though. Imo he was not disrespectful to Jesus he rather portrayed him as human being, the cartoonist just had some funny ideas how the Jesus committed wonder stories really happened.

Of course the newspaper can publish anything they want, offended Muslism have the right to boycott Danish products or to burn Danish flags. It is their response to a provocation and it is their way of expressing their opinion. What would not be OK is if muslim states forbid the import of Danish products.

I havent heard of this; i vaguely remember some tv talks about something that sounds like it, but i really doubt that anyone was actually charged; the law system is secular (which doesnt mean that it isnt corrupt, but it does mean that such a stupid case wouldnt reach court). Greece is one of the euro countries where religion still is relatively strong, but i guess that its not worse than in the catholic countries.

 

[Kayak]

As I see it anyway, if it's genuinely funny then God will probably forgive them, and if it's truly blasphemous then he'll deal with it in his own proper time. Until God calls upon me to be his PR guy, censoring cartoons isn't high on my priority list.

But what if God cames and condems you for standing by while others made mockery of him? (not that I dissagree with your sentiment).

 

[Elrohir]

But what if God cames and condems you for standing by while others made mockery of him? (not that I dissagree with your sentiment).

A good question. First, as I said later in my post, I think it is personally legitimate for individuals to take action against those they believe to be acting blasphemously. So if I believe Newspaper X is acting immaturely and promoting blasphemous material, then I can write an irritated letter, and transfer my subscription to Newspaper Y.

I don't suggest you stand by and watch while others mock God, but neither do I suggest their right to freedom of speech should be curtailed, unless their excercise of freedom of speech endangers lives. (The "Fire in a crowded movie theater" clause) And as a Christian, being insulted is hardly a suprise; Christ himself was humiliated while on Earth and warned his disciples that they would be attacked both physically and verbally during their time in this world. All the laws and embargo's in the world are never going to completely change that, and justice will never be fully meted out in this world. But that's one reason why I believe there's another.

To put it simply:
Personal action against perceived insults = good.
National action against perceived insults = bad.

 

[HannibalBarka]

...I was just thinking that.

Anyways, this is yet another example of conflict that involves Islam. (just a coincidence I swear!).

And your point is?

 

[Mr. Blonde]

I havent heard of this; i vaguely remember some tv talks about something that sounds like it, but i really doubt that anyone was actually charged; the law system is secular (which doesnt mean that it isnt corrupt, but it does mean that such a stupid case wouldnt reach court). Greece is one of the euro countries where religion still is relatively strong, but i guess that its not worse than in the catholic countries.

I found the story here at http://www.tiscali.co.uk/news/newsw...greekcourttoruleonbannedjesuscartoonbook.html

Greek court to rule on banned Jesus cartoon book
12/04/2005 23:23


By Karolos Grohmann

ATHENS (Reuters) - A Greek court will rule on Wednesday whether to allow sales of a cartoon book from Austria depicting Jesus Christ as a drinking buddy of Jimi Hendrix and a marijuana-smoking, naked surfer.

Cartoonist Gerhard Haderer was found guilty by a Greek court of "malicious public blasphemy" this year and received a six-month suspended prison sentence for his take on the life of Christ -- but he can only be detained if he comes to Greece.

The book went on sale in Greece briefly in 2002, but the Orthodox Church was outraged and succeeded in having it immediately withdrawn through a provisional court order.

"This should never have happened if we were living in a real democratic society," said Athina Kouri of the book’s Greek publishers Oxy. "Our position is that there should be no obstacle to the freedom of speech."

Haderer’s lawyer Maria Mazioti is expected to file an objection to the ruling on Wednesday on the grounds that another European Union member, Austria, refused to charge the cartoonist after complaints in his home country regarding the same book.

"The Life of Jesus" has been translated into 10 languages.

Dozens of top Greek cartoonists are backing their colleague, saying the decision has harmed the image of their country.

A 1,000-signature petition, signed by international artists, including 2004 Nobel Literature Prize winner Elfriede Jelinek, demanded the immediate lifting of the ban.

It was not clear whether Haderer, who has said he would take the case to the European Court of Human Rights, would be present at the trial.

Essence: he was found guilty of blasphemy in the first instance, the sentence got overturned by the next court instance. I am rather annoyed that such laws still exist in Europe (I think also in Austria), they are hardly enforced, though, but who knows....

 

[Kyriakos]

At least the sentence got cancelled in the next court. The church at that time was probably in one of its stronger moments; the last year it has collapsed due to various church-associated scandals and so it doesnt look likely that it will rise again

 

[Verbose]

Embargo against Denmark contitutes a declaration of trade war against the EU. So please...try!

Even if it's Mr. and Mrs. Average Saudi exercising their rights as consumers to buy whatever they like, including NOT buying Danish?

'Cause that's what's happening.

(Actually the only business hit is the Swedish-Danish dairy company Arla. The factory in Saudi has been closed down for lack of business.)

 

[Averdris]

I believe there will be one world order sooner then later, perhaps in our lifetime. World peace would be on the agenda, no more starvation, no more pain. This wont last very long maybe 7 years? During the seven years of this new world order, peace will not exist... fake peace. They will control us with microchips that allow us to buy things and identifies us. We'll be like cattle. If this happens look for me in the hills I'll be hiding out.

This will be influenced on us because of terrorism... and others...

 

[Inhalaattori]

From now on I will buy lots of danish products and not a single product form arab countries. This is my statement. I hope many people do the same.

I dont want to predict anything, but there will be huge problems with muslims in Europe in future. "Less muslims, less trouble" seems to be the rule. Why the chinese and mexicans are not blowing aircrafts or sending death threats every day? - Becouse they are civilized people.

We must stand united against this terrific threat.

 

[Little Raven]

From now on I will buy lots of danish products and not a single product form arab countries.

Let me know how your quest to not buy oil or oil related products works out for you.

 

[HannibalBarka]

From now on I will buy lots of danish products and not a single product form arab countries. This is my statement. I hope many people do the same.

Good for you, you'll need to use bike though

QUOTE=Inhalaattori]
I dont want to predict anything[/QUOTE]

Then don't, we won't feel offended

but there will be huge problems with muslims in Europe in future. "Less muslims, less trouble" seems to be the rule. Why the chinese and mexicans are not blowing aircrafts or sending death threats every day? - Becouse they are civilized people.
...

My tibetan neighbour doesn't really agree with you, but hell I am not sure he is what I'd call civilized people, what do you think?

And well the Iranian are trying to build nuclear weapons so they can send some thing else then "death threats" and become as civilized as the chinese, but some civilized people I don't remember where aren't really happy and do prefer death threats every day instead after all.

Now go do your home work

 

[Averdris]

I dont want to predict anything, but there will be huge problems with muslims in Europe in future. "Less muslims, less trouble" seems to be the rule.

We must stand united against this terrific threat.

"Less muslims, less trouble" this is true. Think about it... in Canada we are allowed to be christains and we are allowed to be whatever religion we want to be, including heathen... but if we went to one of this fuked up muslim nations we get our heads chopped off... and they scream allah or someshit. IF we cant have christain rights in their nations then they cant have rights here. Besides the one causing troubles are the fanatics that we let in our country... they would get arrested in their nations thats why they come here to be protected. Havent you noticed they populate like rats here...they are everywhere! I read a quote from their bible it said to wait it out and live with heathens untill the time is right. I seen a decumentry and this muslim showed a map of the world in their eyes. Everything is muslim, they want to take over the world... sure they can... if we keep letting them in our countries... then we become miniority... suddenly they beat us with their votes... why couldnt quebec seperate? ... because of the majority of immagrants...

 

[shahreevar]

"Less muslims, less trouble" this is true. Think about it... in Canada we are allowed to be christains and we are allowed to be whatever religion we want to be, including heathen... but if we went to one of this fuked up muslim nations we get our heads chopped off... and they scream allah or someshit. IF we cant have christain rights in their nations then they cant have rights here. Besides the one causing troubles are the fanatics that we let in our country... they would get arrested in their nations thats why they come here to be protected. Havent you noticed they populate like rats here...they are everywhere! I read a quote from their bible it said to wait it out and live with heathens untill the time is right. I seen a decumentry and this muslim showed a map of the world in their eyes. Everything is muslim, they want to take over the world... sure they can... if we keep letting them in our countries... then we become miniority... suddenly they beat us with their votes... why couldnt quebec seperate? ... because of the majority of immagrants...

i hear Canada is very liberal, and welcoming of immigrant of all kinds. i was actually thinking about moving to vancouver. i have been there a few times, and i really liked it a lot. the people were open minded, cool, laid back, the city is beautiful, and the weather is fair. oh canada.... i hate to think that such people like the person above reside in your beautiful land. i had such high hopes of comming to you, and planting my seeds like rats, i had such dreams of fornication, and beheadings. come to think of it, blond (christian)women look better when they are veiled.

oh, please, i know not all people (canadinans included) think like you, and are racist like you. but i am really sad that you think like this, i just hope you could open your eyes and love us "rat babies".

oh p.s. our bible??? omfg, you do need to read more often!