Islamic scholar who disseminated cartoons of Prophet speaks out

Canadian Broadcast News ^ | Wed, 08 Feb 2006 10:53:08 EST | CBC News

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

The Danish Islamic scholar who brought cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad to the attention of Muslim leaders around the world says he was only trying to boost his campaign to get an apology from the Danish newspaper that first published them.

• INDEPTH: Muhammad cartoons: A timeline

Danish Islamic scholar Ahmed Akkari, right, and Carsten Juste, editor in chief of the Danish daily Jyllands-Posten, which published cartoons depicting the Prophet, before a debate on Danish television, Sunday, Feb. 5. (AP Photo/POLFOTO, Carsten Snejbjerg)

"I guess we took the illustrations to influential people so they could help," Ahmed Akkari told CBC News on Wednesday. "Is it so tough giving an apology?"

The 31-year-old took the illustrations with him during a December trip to the Middle East. The cartoons – one showing the Prophet wearing a bomb-shaped turban – were originally published in Jyllands-Posten in September and later republished in various European newspapers.

Muslim tradition forbids any depiction of Muhammad, even if it's complimentary, out of concern it could lead to idolatry.

The cartoons have sparked violent protests in several Muslim countries, including Afghanistan, where at least eight protesters have died.

• FROM FEB. 8, 2006: Afghan clerics appeal for end to protests

In an interview with the Globe and Mail, Akkari said he did not mean for his mission to lead to such violence. He said while he is still angered that the media would print images offensive to Islam, he would like to find a way to end the current crisis.

During his visits with Muslim leaders, Akkari also showed images that had not been published in any newspaper, but were part of hate mail sent to his colleagues.

Those drawings show the Prophet as "a pig, a dog, a woman and a child-sodomizing madman," says the Globe.

He said the images were not meant to be mistaken for cartoons published in newspapers, but protesters have cited the drawings during their rallies.

When asked by CBC News why he included these images when they had nothing to do with the published newspaper cartoons, Akkari defended his actions.

"It was taken out of context and somebody is trying ... to give us the guilt for what is happening."

[castlebrew]

(Jake makes with the puppy-dog eyes, raises left eyebrow)

MW: Oh, Jake...

(They kiss. Jake drops MW in mud)C'mon Elwood, let's go!

Elwood (tips hat as he passes MW) Ma'am..

[just a dude]

So the media knew the Muslim world would be enraged at the Abu Graib pictures and published them anyway since the outrage would be directed at our soldiers.

And now the media won't publish cartoons because the Muslim outrage would be directed at them. The media. Who, collectively, seem to be cowards.

That is the one of the most explicitly accurate statements about this whole sordid affair. The MSM actions/inaction, as usual, tell the true story. Additionally, since the cartoons don't trash Bush, no need to print them.

It is becoming more and more apparent that the whole issue has become an orchestrated attempt to protect free-islam-speech. All the while the MSM genuflexes at the altar that will bring upon them their own demise.

In the meanwhile, less attention is paid to Iranian nuclear ambitions...

[Emmet Fitzhume]

The Muslims will always run around saying, "it's the Jooooooooooooooooos!!!!!"

Question is, how does this guy classify himself as a scholar?

Or even better, how exactly does one become a "Muslim Scholar?"

What kind of credentials does this guy have?

Did he study at accredited universities?

Wonder what his thesis or dissertation covered?

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Any chance that interview is available on the internet?

[Smokin' Joe]

This could be a case of 'keep your friends close and your enemies closer', but I doubt it.

It goes without saying that his communications traffic, whereabouts, associates, etc. will be closely monitored.

With a fresh feeling of (over)confidence, the guy could be an intel goldmine without ever realizing it.

As they say, "It ain't over 'till it's over."

He may still wind up floating along, studying the bottom of a canal or something.

In the meantime, the story is slowly getting out that this guy is the Islamic equivalent of Dan Rather's "fake, but accurate" memos, Newsqueek's flushed Korans, and the NYT's Jayson Blair, all rolled into one.

With his lies and dissimilations he has exposed much of Islam for the mob it is. This will ultimately work against the lot of them.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Another interview with the clown:

'It is not what I want to happen' (Danish Islamic "Scholar" who started controversy)

[Dajjal]

Religion of Peace bump

[Marine_Uncle]

One could become a bit weary over this stuff. Obviously the Islamic world of clowns just need crap they think justisfy the means to the end. And end is really to fire up the goons to burn flags, carry pictures of GWB then throw them on the ground in front of some anxiously waiting L/MSM or Arab film crew as they burn it and stump on it. Anything that the news goons feel is news. Boy I really like to use the word goons a lot. ha ha.

[Screamname]

"Muslim tradition forbids any depiction of Muhammad, even if it's complimentary, out of concern it could lead to idolatry."

What? Is just about every Muslim named "Kevin" now?

[danamco]

Muslim tradition forbids any depiction of Muhammad, even if it's complimentary, out of concern it could lead to idolatry.




Who, and where does it say it is a depiction of the PROPHET mohammed?
How many muzzies have the name mohammed??
If that is allowed in the muzzie world, it seems to me that they themselves have clearly VALIDATED the cartoon!??!

[kublia khan]

Isn't this man also worthy of a medal, no one else that I can think of has done so much to move the alliance of Europe and the US back together. Thank you from the bottom of my heart Mr. Towelhead your vile hatred has driven you to do great harm but the true God has turned it against you for our good.

[danamco]

Yes, guess Michelle Malkin was on Hannity & Colmes last night railing at CNN and their excus4es....see this:



Is Eason Jordan still at CNN???
I thought he quit cnn!!!

[montag813]

He is a murderer. He publicized phony ads to inflame Muslim anger and at least 10 deaths resulted. The Danes should arrest and try him.

[calljack]

Liar Liar pants on fire

[danamco]

But watch, the Danes will be too cowardly to do this, and so the Muslim bullying will continue unabated.




I don't think that you know the Danes very well!!!
Maybe you should learn a little of the Danish history during WWII in 1943+, probably before you lady was born!??!

[Chena]

The basic point remains that while freedom of speech may hurt some feelings now and then, it doesn't mean that you have to act out in violence upon it (like some immature adolescent) and no one forced you to read it. Another point remains that Islam has repeatedly shown itself to be capable of great violence for reasons that do not warrant violence. While the cartoons may have been in poor taste, many were based on reality. Reality is often based on poor taste. Accept it. The bottom line: Too freaking bad, Islam. Get over it and grow up. It's time to evolve into humans. Don't you have something better to offer humanity than violence and prayer rugs?

Your comment bears repeating, Outland. bttt

[Chena]

Once again, as (nearly) always, the media buoys up Islamists by treating their extreme and particularistic version of Islam as normative. IT IS NOT. Millions and millions of Sufis couldn't give a %&$*( about people drawing pictures of Mohamed. Millions of Shia probably have pictures of Mo or other Islamic saints in their homes. I'm no expert but don't doubt there are any number of other sects (or ethnic groups) within Islam that likewise tolerate, to one degree or another, religious imagery of persons and prophets.

There was a woman speaking on one of the Fox shows last night that said basically the same thing. The extreme Islamists who are on a rampage are only a microscopic group compared to the population of Muslims around the world.

[Chena]

Guess we have the same "bu!!$#it meter!". Mine went so far off the mark it is now somewhere in Canada! Good place for a used up bu!!$#it meter. ;)

[Outland]

Good points worth pondering.

"Muslim tradition forbids any depiction of Muhammad, even if it's complimentary, out of concern it could lead to idolatry."

Compare that to the philosophy where socialists want to take away your firearms so you don't hurt yourself. In that same light, Mohammad apparently figured that his followers were so stupid that they would worship idols. And why would they worship Mohammad anyway since he is just their prophet? Islam isn't supposed to worship Mohammad, but merely respect him.

And isn't taking the name of "Mohammad" the same as using his name as a verbal idol?

The more I learn, the more I'm convinced that Muhammad was a junkie and his followers are fools. And since fools attract more fools, it's easy to understand why liberals have a soft stance toward them. You are the company you keep. Except in this case, their company will slit their throats.

[Cindy]

ON THE NET...

WorldNetDaily.com: "MUSLIM NEWSPAPER RAN CARTOONS 4 MONTHS AGO  No outrage when Egyptian publication headlined drawings on Ramadan cover"  (February 9, 2006)

FOX NEWS.com (AP): " RICE: SYRIA, IRAN INFLAMED VIOLENCE" (February 8, 2006)

TOWNHALL.com: "CALVIN AND HOBBES -- AND MUHAMMAD" -Commentary by Ann Coulter (February 8, 2006)

MEMRI.org - Special Dispatch Series - No. 1089 "Sheikh Al-Qaradhawi Responds to Cartoons of Prophet Muhammad: Whoever is Angered and Does Not Rage in Anger is a Jackass - We are Not a Nation of Jackasses" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "In a February 3, 2006 Friday sermon, Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi, who is head of the European Council for Fatwa and Research, president of the International Association of Muslim Scholars (IAMS), and the spiritual guide of many other Islamist organizations across the world (including the Muslim Brotherhood), exhorted worshippers to show rage to the world over the Danish paper Jylland Posten's publication of cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad. The sermon was aired on Qatar TV on February 3, 2006.") (February 9, 2006)

WorldNetDaily.com: "U.N., EU TO APOLOGIZE TO ISLAM FOR CARTOONS" (February 8, 2006)

ASSIST NEWS SERVICE: "CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS, FREE SPEECH RIGHTS UNDER PRESSURE FROM RADICAL ISLAM Intimidation factor is real following riots and death threats" by Mark Ellis (February 7, 2006)

Off-Topic.INTERNET-HAGANAH.COM: "YEAH, THAT'S A PAROLE VIOLATION...(February 7, 2006)

News.BBC.co.uk: "CARTOON PROTESTER WAS DRUG DEALER" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "A Muslim demonstrator who imitated a suicide bomber in London to protest over cartoons satirising the Prophet Muhammad is a convicted drug dealer. Omar Khayam, 22, of Bedford, was jailed in 2002 and released on licence last year after serving half of his sentence for dealing heroin and cocaine.") (Last updated February 7, 2006)

WorldNetDaily.com: "'MUHAMMAD CARTOON' PROVED FAKE Imam added 3 especially provocative images to fuel outrage" (February 8, 2006)

MilitantIslamMonitor (TELEGRAPH.co.uk): "MUSLIMS CLERICS WHO 'DIALOUGED' WITH DANES WENT TO MIDDLE EAST TO INCITE VIOLENCE WITH FAKED MOHAMMED CARTOONS" (February 7, 2006)

MEMRI.org - Special Dispatch Series - No. 1087: "HAMAS LEADER KHALED MASH'AL AT A DAMASCUS MOSQUE: THE NATION OF ISLAM WILL SIT AT THE THONE OF THE WORLD AND THE WEST WILL BE FULL OF REMORSE - WHEN IT'S TOO LATE" (February 7, 2006)

TrackingAlQueda.blogspot.com: "FEBRUARY 13, 2006 THE NEW EMBASSY BURNING DAY" (February 7, 2006)

TrackingAlQueda.com: "2/10/2006 - Embassy Burning Day" (February 4, 2006)

"www.mohajroon.com/vb"

INTERNET-HAGANAH.com: "HOW THE BROTHERS ATTACKED THE WEBSITE OF JYLLANDS-POSTEN." (February 7, 2006)

INTERNET-HAGANAH.com: "ISLAMIST HACKER SITE 3ASFH.NET/.COM - DOWN" (February 8, 2006)

JAMESTOWN.org - Terrorism Focus: "INTERNET MUJAHIDEEN REFINE ELECTRONIC WARFARE TACTICS" by Stephen Ulph (February 7, 2006)

DANIELPIPES.org (NEW YORK SUN): "CARTOONS AND ISLAMIC IMPERIALISM" by Daniel Pipes (February 7, 2006)

DANIELPIPES.org (NATIONAL REVIEW ONLINE): "THE CLASH TO END ALL CLASHES?  Making sense of the cartoon jihad" by Daniel Pipes (February 7, 2006)

LittleGreenFootballs - Weblog (TELEGRAPH.co.uk): "RADICAL CLERIC: CARTOONIST SHOULD BE EXECUTED" (February 6, 2006)

Google - News Search: "OMAR BAKRI [Mohammed]"

JIHAD WATCH.org (SA via News24.com): "'We swear to God, if we catch one of their citizens in Iraq, we will cut him to pieces, to take revenge for prophet'" (February 6, 2006)

JPOST.com - JERUSALEM POST: "IRANIAN PAPER RUNS HOLOCAUST CONTEST" (Updated February 6, 2006)

JIHAD WATCH.org (ABC.net.au): "TWO KILLED IN AFGHAN ANTI-CARTOON PROTEST" (February 6, 2006)

JIHAD WATCH.org (AP): "TURKEY: CATHOLIC PRIEST SHOT, KILLED BY ASSAILANT SHOUTING 'ALLAHU AKBAR'" (February 6, 2006)

OnlineJihad.blogspot.com: "ITALIAN PRIEST KILLED IN TURKEY - No Apology from Turkish Prime Minister" (February 5, 2006)

WASHINGTON TIMES.com: Beirut - "SYRIA SEEN AS INSTIGATOR" (February 7, 2006)

GlobalPolitician.com: "BEIRUT MOB TORCHES CONSULATE" by Jeremy Reynalds (February 6, 2006)

LittleGreenFootballs.com - Weblog - (TheAge.com.au): "CARTOON JIHAD IN NEW ZEALAND" (February 5, 2006)

INTERNET-HAGANAH.com: "VOTE EARLY, VOTE OFTEN" (February 5, 2006)

IslamOnline.net - Views and Analyses: "CARTOONS OF THE PROPHET: A PITFALL TRAP" by Dal Nun Strong, Freelance Writer - UK (February 5, 2006)

THE COUNTERTERRORISM BLOG: "MORE LIES FROM DANISH IMAMS" (February 4, 2006)

MICHELLE MALKIN.com: "IT IS NOT A 'ROW'" (February 4, 2006)

ASSIST NEWS SERVICE: "ISLAMIC ANGER AGAINST PUBLICATION OF CARTOONS GROWS Dishonor Muhammad and Risk Execution" by Jeremy Reynalds (February 4, 2006)

AS-SAWAH.com: "The Ruling on the One Who Insults the Prophet of Allah" -posted by "terrorthreat" on February 2, 2006

JIHAD WATCH.org (BBC): "NORWEGIAN EMBASSY IN DAMASCUS TORCHED ALSO" (February 4, 2006)

JIHAD WATCH.org (AP): "DANISH EMBASSY IN DAMASCUS ABLAZE" (February 4, 2006)

BBC NEWS.co.uk: "TWO JORDAN EDITORS ARE ARRESTED" (February 4, 2006)

INTERNET-HAGANAH.com: "E-CFR.ORG: CURRENT SITE OF THE 'EUROPEAN' COUNCIL FOR FATWA AND RESEARCH" (February 4, 2006)

JIHAD WATCH.org: "'you have started it, you are nurturing it and don't blame the muslims for their actions'" (February 4, 2006)

AFTENPOSTEN.no/english: "NORWAY USED AS TERROR BASE Islamic extremists are using Norway as a base for terrorist operations overseas, but the head of Norway's security police claims they're being watched." (February 3, 2006)

BRUSSELS JOURNAL.com: "'THE WAR IS ON'" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Yesterday (Thursday) Mullah Krekar, the alleged leader of the Islamist group Ansar al-Islam who has been living in Norway as a refugee since 1991, said that the publication of the Muhammad cartoons was a declaration of war. "The war has begun," he told Norwegian journalists. Mr Krekar said Muslims in Norway are preparing to fight. "It does not matter if the governments of Norway and Denmark apologize, the war is on.") (February 3, 2006)

AFTENPOSTEN.no/english: Aftenposten.no - Search Term: "KREKAR"

Google - Search Term: "KREKAR"

TrackingAlQaeda.blogspot.com: "EUROPEAN SITES HACKED BY MUSLIMS OUTRAGED OVER CARTOONS" (February 3, 2006)

MICHELLE MALKIN.com: "IN THEIR OWN WORDS" (February 3, 2006)

MICHELLE MALKIN.com: "THE 'INTERNATIONAL DAY OF ANGER'" (February 3, 2006)

JIHAD WATCH.org (THESUN.co.uk): "'I love Al-Qaida' -- On London Baby's Bonnet" (February 4, 2006)

THE COUNTERTERRORISM BLOG: "'We Want Blood on the Streets of England'"(February 3, 2006)

alghurabaa.co.uk: "Kill those who insult the Prophet Muhammad (saw)"

INFOVLAD.net: "BOYCOTTING DANISH PRODUCTS GOES ON" (February 3, 2006)

FRONTPAGE MAGAZINE.com: "MUSLIMS AGAINST THE CARTOON JIHAD" by Kamal Nawash (February 3, 2006)

ISLAMONLINE.net: Cairo - "WARNINGS CARTOONS RISK VIOLENCE" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "The blasphemous cartoons of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) by a Danish daily and other European newspapers are risking to trigger acts of violence around the world, officials and commentators warn." (February 2, 2006)

THE COUNTERTERRORISM BLOG: "FABRICATED CARTOONS WORSENED DANISH CONTROVERSY" (February 2, 2006)

DAVIDS MEDIENKRITIK - blog: "WITH DENMARK: United Against Islamic Intolerance Time to Stand Up to Islama-Bullying: BUY DANISH!"

DAVIDS MEDIENKRITIK - blog: "DANISH CARTOONS: GERMAN JOURNALIST ASSOCIATION SAYS 'NO'...MAKE THAT 'YES'" (February 1, 2006)

THE COUNTERTERRORISM BLOG: "MUJAHIDEEN ARMY CALLS UPON FIGHTERS TO ATTACK DENMARK AND NORWAY" (January 31, 2006)

JIHAD WATCH.org (AFP): "FATWA AGAINST DANISH TROOPS" (January 31, 2006)

THE COUNTERTERRORISM BLOG: "DANISH LEFTIST GROUP OPENLY FUNDING TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS" -Posted by Olivier Guitta (January 29, 2006)

TrackingAlQueda.blogspot.com: "MUSLIMS BEGIN PING FLOOD AGAINST JYLLANDS-POSTEN" (January 29, 2006)

INTERNET-HAGANAH.com: "THE DANISH THREAT This latest threat from the 'Glory Brigades in Northern Europe' targets Denmark" (January 28, 2006)

"www.internet-haganah.com/hmedia/28jan06-denmark/index.htm" (January 28, 2006

TrackingAlQueda.blogspot.com: "Denmark is next - BOLO Denmark!!!" (January 27, 2006)

LittleGreenFootballs.com - Weblog: "The Cartoon Jihad" (January 27, 2006)

"www.zombietime.com/mohammed_image_archive/"

INFOVLAD.net: "NEXT TARGET - DENMARK?" (October 15, 2005)