Posted on 02/08/2006 1:07:38 AM PST by odds
PREMIER Peter Beattie has strongly supported freedom of speech after a second Queensland newspaper published a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed.
The Rockhampton Morning Bulletin today joined Brisbane's Courier-Mail in publishing one of 12 cartoons first printed in Denmark and which have sparked a violent backlash across the Muslim world.
Any depiction of Mohammed is considered blasphemous and banned in Arab countries, although not in some non-Arab Islamic countries.
But Mr Beattie said he felt strongly about freedom of the press in Australia.
"I strongly support their right to publish these cartoons," Mr Beattie said.
(Excerpt) Read more at theaustralian.news.com.au ...
Although, a couple of Muslim clerics have said that they would consider sending protest letters to relevant newspapers.
Hopefully, this sets an example for non violence.
ping
Oops, this should have been posted in News/Activism not Blogger & Personal!
I believe you have the surfers to thank for that. The Muslim community found out just how bad it is to get the Aussies mad at you.
Perhaps so. I also think all involved (e.g. law enforcement people, surfers, australian muslims and ordinary Aussies), here, learned from that particular experience. That is the good part that came out of that event.
Spot on. Note that Beattie's response was very different from that of Kim Beasley.
Good to see the Queenslanders staying strong.
QUEENSLANDER!!! :-)
Cheers.
With all due respect to Kim Beasley, I don't think much of him. :)
You are not alone there.
You are not alone there.
Good. I wish our government had come out as strongly. Instead they weakly attacked the cartoons, and then made token remarks about the nutbars.
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