Posted on 02/10/2006 9:31:54 AM PST by Thanatos
BBC News is reporting that the Liberal Government of Sweden has ordered the shutdown of websites that have any Muhammad cartoons on display.
The site's host, Levonline, pulled the plug on the website of the Swedish Democrats' SD-Kuriren newspaper (website is currently down due to the Swedish Government orders, use SD Kuriren Backup Website) after being ordered to by the Swedish government.
Kuriren editor Richard Jomshof said the government was breaking the law.
"We have to do something about it. This is illegal. They can't do this just because we are a small magazine," he told the BBC News website.
He had asked readers to send in their own Muhammad cartoons, but he denies intending to offend Muslims.
His website briefly posted a picture showing Muhammad from the rear, looking into a mirror, with his eyes blacked out - an image he said was about self-censorship.
"It was directed at the Swedish government and Swedish magazines," Jomshof said.
"They are cowards for not standing by the Danish people and Jyllands-Posten [Danish newspaper which first published controversial cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad last year]."
Muslims around the world have demonstrated against the cartoons since they were republished in a number of European newspapers at the end of January.
Swedish Foreign Minister Laila Freivalds described Kuriren's move as "a provocation" by "a small group of extremists".
"I will defend freedom of the press no matter what the circumstances, but I strongly condemn the provocation by SD-Kuriren. It displays a complete lack of respect," she said in a statement.
Cartoon in question by SD-Kuriren
Followups:
Michelle Malkin on Sweden's capitulation
Michelle Malkin's War on Free Speech around the world
Stockholm Spectator Group Blog
Welcome to Sharia, guys! BTW, how "liberal" is a government that submits to fanatics who want to return society to the 13th century?
My husband and I were just laughing over this at dinner as we're in our apartment in Lidingo (just outside of Stockholm) and watching cruise ships go by on the Baltic...
back in the States, they couldn't do this....
GO METROSPY.COM!!!!
ETA back to the States 12/2006.... Yippee!
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