(Publishing these cartoons was worse than unwise, it was an uncivilized and un-Christian thing to do. The Western civilization is less for it, and the mad mullahs have a legitimate complaint. Civilized countries don't mock religion, minority religion even less, and they don't blapsheme.)
I don't buy that for one moment. The right to free speach protects exactly the type of speach that may offend someone in power. In this instance it's mob power. I could disagree with the cartoons and still want to protect the right to publish them. I happen to agree with them. The Islamists were really annoyed about ANY criticism. The cartoons were making the point that Islam is violent. The riots proved it (as if proof was still needed). Islam's only hope of reform is for it to be criticized as a first step. Therefore I reject any law that prevents that from happening.
The cartoons insulted everyone of Muslim faith, good and bad alike. This is at the time we need cooperation from the moderate muslims, both immigrants to the West and at their homelands. That is the stupid.
Free speech is about exchange of ideas, not insults. If you want to debate the Muslims, or evict them from your country, -- go right ahead, I am with you. Juvenile insults are not free speech, they are antithesis of free speech. Only a complete idiot would not have predicted that riots would ensue. Are riots speech?
Civilization means respect for any religion. The West in particular used to value religious tolerance. Blasphemy is contrary to the ideals of the Western Civilization. With this, secularist yahoos prevailed. Next time they will prevail against the Christians. Soon there will not be much left in Europe to defend against Islam.