Posted on 03/12/2006 5:18:58 AM PST by Clive
Toronto — Protesters gathered on a downtown sidewalk in front of the Danish consulate Saturday in support of free speech and the publication of controversial caricatures depicting the Islamic Prophet Mohammad.
The cartoons, first published in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten in September, have been denounced by Muslims for depicting the Prophet as a terrorist, and sparked violent protest and unrest worldwide in recent weeks.
Some of the demonstrations have turned deadly, claiming at least 45 lives worldwide.
One of the 12 drawings depicts Mohammad wearing a turban shaped like a bomb with a lit fuse. Muslims consider any physical representation of the Prophet to be blasphemous.
While other countries have republished the cartoons since the initial printing, further fuelling the controversy, protesters continued to target Denmark in their demonstrations, with attacks on the country's embassies in Muslim countries, setting the country's flag on fire, and calling for a boycott of Danish goods.
"Some of us will not stand idly and meekly by while a principle fundamental to any free society is violently and senselessly threatened,” event co-organizer Daniel Dale told the cheering crowd of between 100 and 150 people on Saturday.
“We will not stand idly and meekly by while a democracy and ally is violently and senselessly attacked.”
Demonstrators waved large Danish flags and carried placards proclaiming the importance of freedom of expression in a democracy.
Former television news anchor Peter Kent, representing the non-profit Canadian Coalition of Democracies, told the crowd that free speech, no matter how controversial, should be respected within a democratic society without fear of retribution.
“Any democracy worth its salt should be strong enough to endure the most controversial speech,” said Mr. Kent, who ran as a Conservative but failed to unseat Liberal Carolyn Bennett in a Toronto riding in the January election.
“That speech cannot be corrupted or compromised or silenced by intimidation or fear of violent reprisal,” he said.
“We in Canada and free people around the world have the right to offend and to be offended. We do not have the right to respond to offence with violence.”
The Toronto rally was inspired by a similar demonstration Feb. 24 at the Danish embassy in Washington.
Mr. Dale, a York University business student, said that while he and event co-organizer Nav Purewal don't support the content of the cartoons, they stand by their publication and the decision of the Alberta-based Western Standard and Jewish Free Press to reprint the cartoons last month.
“Our intent is not to incite or provoke, but simply to stand in solidarity with a democracy and an ally and to express support for free expression,” Mr. Dale said.
Similar events are now planned for London, England; Sydney, Australia; New York, San Francisco and Chicago.
More here with photos.....
http://thespiritofman.blogspot.com/2006/03/rally-in-toronto-for-denmark-1.html
Here is another keen insight to the muzzies amd their Danish hosts:
http://www.amconmag.com/2006/2006_03_13/cover.html
That is a very good article.
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