Catholic magazine in Prophet cartoon row (DANTE VS. MUHAMMAD ALERT)

The Scotsman ^ | April 17, 2006 | NICK PISA

[MadIvan]

THE controversy over cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad was reignited yesterday after an Italian Catholic magazine printed one on its front cover.

Studi Cattolici carried a drawing of the Prophet in Hell, with the Italian writer Dante Alighieri asking the poet Virgil: "That man divided in two from his head to his feet - isn't that Muhammad?" Virgil replies: "Yes, it is him and he is in two because he has divided society - while the man next to him with his arms down represents Italian politics towards Islam."

The cartoon is a play on Dante's Inferno - a similar scene is painted on the ceiling of the San Petronio Cathedral in Bologna, which had been the planned target of a Islamic terrorist cell until the plot was uncovered.

Yesterday, there was widespread condemnation of the decision to print the cartoon - earlier this year riots erupted across the Muslim world after similar cartoons were published in Denmark.

But Studi Cattolici, which has close ties with the Vatican and the secretive Opus Dei group, defended the decision to publish it.

Its editor, Cesare Cavallieri, said: "It is not a cartoon against Muhammad but rather a cartoon about the loss of identity in the West."

However, Opus Dei distanced itself from the magazine, saying:

"We wish to express our solidarity with the Muslim communities of Italy and the world. We consider it deplorable that this cartoon should appear in a magazine that has the name Catholic in its title.

"Its publication shows a lack of sensitivity and Christian charity. Although Opus Dei has no responsibility for this magazine and each person is responsible for his or her own actions, we wish to ask forgiveness for the offence given."

The newspaper Corriere Della Sera warned that the cartoon risked "an inferno of controversy".

Muslim groups in Italy also condemned the publication of the cartoon. Roberto Piccardo, of the Italian Union of Muslims, said: "The mother of cretins is always pregnant."

[Lx]

Every time I see your link to Dune, it reminds of how the Dune series is one long love letter to Islam. Having reread the 6 books after 9/11, it was really an eye opener. The prequels didn't have the same feeling especially since they weren't written by Frank Herbert.

The spice must flow...

[MadIvan]

It's definitely not a love letter to Islam - it shows how dangerous a fanatical religion can be, and how it can lead to murderous ends. In Dune Messiah, Muad'dib goes over the death toll from his Jihad - and furthermore, it shows his distaste for what his Empire has become - it takes his son Leto to accomplish a vision in which man is not in the thrall of a singular religion or order ("The Golden Path").

Regards, Ivan

[livius]

Frankly, I'm surprised (and disappointed) that people connected with Opus Dei have already grovelled before Islamic sensibilities. I read elsewhere that the editor of the magazine has also apologized.

Are we now going to seek out copies of the Inferno and rip out the famous illustration that was the basis of this cartoon? Or maybe we'll have to destroy all copies of the Inferno because it contains words unflattering to Mohammed?

Of course, every moment brings us yet another proof of the accuracy of Dante's assessment of Mohammed and his "contribution" to human civilization.

[redgolum]

Herbert was fascinated with the muslim culture and the like. The first time I read Dune, I wondered if the guy got high and watched Lawrence of Arabia to many times.

[Sun]

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