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The French has said that it will close numerous schools, consuls, and embassies following the publication of explicit cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed, amid fears that the publication will lead to backlash similar to that faced following the release of an amateur anti-Muslim film. This most recent publication has been met with a mixture of condemnation and acceptance but government officials and religious leaders are worried that it will spark further physical violence and damage by Islamist groups around the world.
Recent publication and distribution of an anti-Islam film has caused serious backlash with attacks in the US leading to dozens of deaths and massive amounts of financial damage. Attacks have been carried out throughout the world. In the US, embassies have been attacked; a situation that has been repeated throughout the Western world. In Pakistan, hundreds of layers staged a protest which has led to a national holiday in honour of the Prophet.
The video itself is an amateur publication and is considered anti-Islamic. The video was posted and then shared on numerous websites and, in some countries, access to those sites has been blocked. YouTube refused to take the video down and Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan have all now blocked access to the site. This latest publication, which shows the Prophet in a number of compromising positions looks likely to increase tensions surrounding the Islamic community.
The images were published by Charlie Hebdo’s magazine, which is no stranger to controversy or to attacks of violence. Hebdo is himself a cartoonist and a number of the images are deemed to be offensive because they show the Prophet Mohammed in compromising positions. The Islam community has condemned the publication of these images and stated that they could lead to another wave of anti-Western hatred attacks.
Charlie Hebod has its main offices in Paris and security has already been stepped up heavily surrounding the area. Police are present at the location which was firebombed in November of last year after publishing an edition of the magazine which claimed to have Mohammed as its guest editor. Such was the veracity of the threat that the real editor of the magazine has been under constant police protection ever since that day.
Further violence may be sparked by these latest images and it is this that has caused the French government to make their move. French schools in Tunisia have already been closed until Monday and Egyptian schools will close today (Thursday). Schools and other official buildings are likely to close until Monday amid fear that tensions and violence could spread well beyond the French borders.
The cartoons have met with a mixed response. The French Muslim Council has said that it is worried by the “irresponsible act†while the Al-Azhar mosque has said that “freedom should stop (if it prevents) other people’s freedoms†and that the caricatures were considered to be “offensive to Islam and its Prophetâ€. However, the magazine editor has denied claims that the cartoon publishing has come at a bad time saying that it will “never be favourable to having a laugh at the expense of radical Islam or religion in general.†A largely unknown organisation called the Syrian Association for Freedom lodged a legal complaint against the publication.
However, Licra the anti-racism group has said that there is no such thing as a crime of blasphemy in France while former Prime Minister Francois Fillon said “I defend Charlie Hebdo, I defend the freedom of expression and I think we mustn’t give an inch of ground on this front.â€
What do you think? Will the cartoons spark further violence? Should the magazine have published them at all? Should they have waited until current tensions had dampened down first?
Recent publication and distribution of an anti-Islam film has caused serious backlash with attacks in the US leading to dozens of deaths and massive amounts of financial damage. Attacks have been carried out throughout the world. In the US, embassies have been attacked; a situation that has been repeated throughout the Western world. In Pakistan, hundreds of layers staged a protest which has led to a national holiday in honour of the Prophet.
The video itself is an amateur publication and is considered anti-Islamic. The video was posted and then shared on numerous websites and, in some countries, access to those sites has been blocked. YouTube refused to take the video down and Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan have all now blocked access to the site. This latest publication, which shows the Prophet in a number of compromising positions looks likely to increase tensions surrounding the Islamic community.
The images were published by Charlie Hebdo’s magazine, which is no stranger to controversy or to attacks of violence. Hebdo is himself a cartoonist and a number of the images are deemed to be offensive because they show the Prophet Mohammed in compromising positions. The Islam community has condemned the publication of these images and stated that they could lead to another wave of anti-Western hatred attacks.
Charlie Hebod has its main offices in Paris and security has already been stepped up heavily surrounding the area. Police are present at the location which was firebombed in November of last year after publishing an edition of the magazine which claimed to have Mohammed as its guest editor. Such was the veracity of the threat that the real editor of the magazine has been under constant police protection ever since that day.
Further violence may be sparked by these latest images and it is this that has caused the French government to make their move. French schools in Tunisia have already been closed until Monday and Egyptian schools will close today (Thursday). Schools and other official buildings are likely to close until Monday amid fear that tensions and violence could spread well beyond the French borders.
The cartoons have met with a mixed response. The French Muslim Council has said that it is worried by the “irresponsible act†while the Al-Azhar mosque has said that “freedom should stop (if it prevents) other people’s freedoms†and that the caricatures were considered to be “offensive to Islam and its Prophetâ€. However, the magazine editor has denied claims that the cartoon publishing has come at a bad time saying that it will “never be favourable to having a laugh at the expense of radical Islam or religion in general.†A largely unknown organisation called the Syrian Association for Freedom lodged a legal complaint against the publication.
However, Licra the anti-racism group has said that there is no such thing as a crime of blasphemy in France while former Prime Minister Francois Fillon said “I defend Charlie Hebdo, I defend the freedom of expression and I think we mustn’t give an inch of ground on this front.â€
What do you think? Will the cartoons spark further violence? Should the magazine have published them at all? Should they have waited until current tensions had dampened down first?