Muslims Protesting the Publication of Prophet Drawings Set Fire to Danish Embassy in Beirut

AP ^ | 02/05/06 | Zeina Karam

[JustaCowgirl]

02-05-2006 6:11 AM
BEIRUT, Lebanon -- Muslims protesting caricatures of Islam's prophet set fire Sunday to a building housing the Danish Embassy in Lebanon as security forces fired tear gas in an attempt to stop the protesters.

Protestors wave black and green Islamic flags in front of the burning building housing the Danish mission during a protest against publication of caricatures of Islam's revered prophet in European newspapers, in Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2006. Demonstrators protesting caricatures of Islam's prophet set fire Sunday to a building housing the Danish mission in Beirut. Security forces shot tear gas into the crowd and fired their weapons in the air in a desperate attempt to stop the onslaught. Casualties, fires and damage of public property were reported in the violence, which came a day after protesters in neighboring Syria torched the Danish and Norwegian embassies in Damascus. (AP Photo)

Thousands of protesters took part in the protest but only a small group of Islamic extremists tried to break the security barrier, prompting troops to fire tear gas and water cannons to disperse them, said the official.

Troops also fired bullets into the air and over the protesters' heads. Demonstrators attacked policemen with stones and set fire to several fire engines, witnesses said. Black smoke was seen billowing from the area. They also burned Danish flags.

The violence in Lebanon came a day after thousands of protesters in neighboring Syria set fire to the Danish and Norwegian embassies in the most violent of furious demonstrations by Muslims in Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

Twelve caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad first published in Denmark's Jyllands-Posten in September and reprinted in European media in the past week. One depicted the prophet wearing a turban shaped as a bomb with a burning fuse. The paper said it had asked cartoonists to draw the pictures because the media was practicing self-censorship when it came to Muslim issues.

The drawings have touched a raw nerve in part because Islamic law is interpreted to forbid any depictions of the Prophet Muhammad.

Lebanese Grand Mufti Mohammed Rashid Kabbani denounced the violence, saying there were infiltrators among the protesters trying to "harm the stability of Lebanon." Speaking on Future TV, he appealed for calm and said there were some who were trying to exploit the protests to cause trouble and "distort the image of Islam."

Lebanon's Prime Minister Fuad Saniora also urged calm.

"Those who are committing these acts have nothing to do with Islam or with Lebanon," said Prime Minister Fuad Saniora. "This is absolutely not the way we express our opinions."

Saniora suggested some in Lebanon may have been inspired by what happened in Syria. "It is as if (the Syrian protests) were a lesson to some in Lebanon to do the same," he told Future TV.

The trouble in Lebanon threatened to take a sectarian spin as protesters stoned the nearby St. Maroun Church, one of the city's main Maronite Catholic churches, and private property in Ashrafieh, a Christian area near Beirut's commercial district. Muslim clerics were seen trying to stop the protesters.

The demonstrators also attacked policemen with stones and set fire to several fire engines, witnesses said. Black smoke was seen billowing from the area. They also burned Danish flags.

Justice Minister Charles Rizk, speaking on LBC television, called on those who hold influence with the protesters to help end the upheaval.

"What is the guilt of the citizens of Ashrafieh of caricatures that were published in Denmark? This sabotage should stop," said Rizk, a Christian.

Any tension with sectarian flavor is a sensitive issue in Lebanon, where Muslims and Christian fought a 15-year civil war that ended in 1990.

[zook]

Fox Sunday just showed the bomb turban cartoon a few minutes ago. Juan Williams, bless his heart, took some good shots not only at the violence but at Islam as well.

[LukeL]

I heard a story on Fox News how the protesters got on the fire escape and set fire to each floor AS THEY WENT UP

Obviously we are not dealing with geniuses here.

[JustaCowgirl]

I heard a story on Fox News how the protesters got on the fire escape and set fire to each floor AS THEY WENT UP

Crispy protestors? Too bad if not. LOL!

[KenmcG414]

Good!! Maybe Europe will wake up to the evils of Islamist terrorism before its too late.

[kaylar]

That thought crossed my mind, too...Any nearby universities with perhaps a large middle eastern contingent? Maybe a homegrown convert/crazy person, copying what it sees on the news? Maybe a Nation of Islam/Fruit of Islam/Lost-Found Nation of Islam whackjob?

[blueminnesota]

Apes!

[beavus]

Any other religions or ideologies out there whose followers think irreverent cartoons of their leaders merit assault, beheading, or conflagration?

The reaction to the cartoons only supports the caricatures. And the contrast in outrage to silly cartoons as compared to 9/11, 3/11, and beheadings of innocents by muslims is very telling.

Islam seems to be uniquely successful in raising innocent babies into mind-numbed monsters. Their collective inferiority complex is well-earned.

[DrJohnNash]

Mo says: 'Arlleen voor Arla feta haal ik hem er uit'

"Arla Brand Feta is the only One For Me!"

I wonder if Danish milk cows are in danger of arson now, too...

[cajungirl]

Where did you find that link?

I have emailed it to everyone I know,,it is hysterical!

[zook]

Jeeze, that reminds me of the guy who puts a pistol to his head and tells his wife, "Don't laugh! You're next!"

[diverteach]

"Wouldn't it be nice if the Western world would finally wake up and see the light?"

Our "intelectual elite", the MSM, and our appeasing Govt. are too blinded by political correctness.

If 9/11 didn't open your eyes enough. If the election of Hamas in Palistine doesn't open your eyes enough. If EVERY terrorist act wasn't enough, then your beyond naive to say the least.

[cajungirl]

Your link needs an entire thread,,that is the best collection of Mohommed cartoons I have ever seen. Bless the Danes!

[IronJack]

Fire is the Devil's only friend.

[eleni121]

MORE CARTOONS HERE:

http://retecool.com/comments.php?id=13539_0_1_0_C


The Danish bloggers are having a blast. Check it out.



.......................................................

Great find! Wildly funny!

[Graymatter]

Looks Dutch to me! The Arabic at the top is the Muslim profession of faith.

[Peach]

The trouble in Lebanon threatened to take a sectarian spin as protesters stoned the nearby St. Maroun Church, one of the city's main Maronite Catholic churches, and private property in Ashrafieh, a Christian area near Beirut's commercial district. Muslim clerics were seen trying to stop the protesters.

[JustaCowgirl]

Well done! You speak Danish, or did you run it through an online translater?

[JustaCowgirl]

Fire is the Devil's only friend.

The Devil went down to Georgia. I wonder if he set fire to some Baptist churches recently?

[Draco]

Except that Juan Williams at the end of his statement included domestic fundamentalists with those burning embassies over 'toons. Get a grip on reality Juan.

[JustaCowgirl]

Looks Dutch to me! The Arabic at the top is the Muslim profession of faith.

Very possible. Someone translated it, maybe he can tell us.