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Freedom of Speech or Incitement to Violence? A Debate Over the Publication of Cartoons

by Democracy Now (reposted)
Muslim protests continue to rage around the world against newspapers depicting the Prophet Muhammed. We host a debate with Irshad Manji, author of "The Trouble with Islam Today: A Muslim's Call for Reform in Her Faith" and As'ad AbuKhalil, professor of political science at California State University, Stanislaus.
Muslims are continuing to demonstrate around the world over the publication of cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad. At least six people have been killed in the worldwide protests -- in Somalia, Lebanon and four in Afghanistan - and violence has broken out in cities across Europe, the Middle East and parts of Asia.

The Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten originally published the 12 cartoons last September - including one that shows the Prophet Muhammad wearing a turban shaped as a bomb with a burning fuse. The cartoons were republished in European and other news media in the last week. Muslims say the images are blasphemous and contrary to Islamic tradition prohibiting depictions of the prophet. The reaction to their publication has stretched across the globe.

In Iran, Lebanon and Syria, the Danish embassies have been set ablaze and several Middle Eastern countries have recalled their ambassadors from Denmark. The Iranian government said it is reviewing trade ties with all the countries where the cartoons have been published. Denmark issued a list of 14 Muslim countries which Danish travelers should avoid and urged its citizens on Tuesday to leave Indonesia.

Some Muslim leaders have condemned the violence.

* Ahmed Abou-Llaban, Imam of the Danish Muslim Society.

Meanwhile, fresh protests erupted in Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan, where a NATO base used by Norwegian troops was attacked. On Monday, protesters turned out in Iraq, the West Bank, Turkey, Indonesia, India, Thailand and even New Zealand. Newspapers have defended the publication of the cartoons arguing their right to free speech. One protester in Auckland, argued otherwise.

* Naveed Hamid, of the Pakistan Association speaking in New Zealand.

The Philadelphia Inquirer became the first U.S. newspaper to publish the disputed cartoons on Saturday. The paper's editor Amanda Bennett said, "My view is that we need to publish it for a good news reason, we need to publish in context and we need to explain to readers why we did it."

In Washington, the Bush administration took a diplomatic approach to the issue.

* Sean McCormack, State Department spokesperson.

We host a debate on the cartoon controversy and the worldwide protests.

* Irshad Manji, author of the book, "The Trouble with Islam Today: A Muslim's Call for Reform in Her Faith." She is currently based at Yale University as a Visiting Fellow with the International Security Studies program.
Website: http://www.Muslim- Refusnik.com
* As'ad AbuKhalil, professor of political science at California State University, Stanislaus. He is the author of several books, his latest is "The Battle for Saudi Arabia: Royalty, Fundamentalism, and Global Power." He runs a popular blog called "The Angry Arab News Service."

LISTEN ONLINE:
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/02/07/1458210
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religion of peace
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Tue, Feb 7, 2006 5:19PM
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