Posted on 01/30/2008 4:29:44 PM PST by blam
Danish library to exhibit Mohammed cartoons
By our foreign staff
Last Updated: 12:44pm GMT 30/01/2008
Denmark's Royal Library is risking the wrath of Muslims with plans to display controversial cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed that sparked violent protest throughout the Islamic world two years ago.
The 12 caricatures of Islam's founder were published in Danish newspapers in September 2005 triggering riots and violence which claimed the lives of over 50 people.
Copenhagen's Royal Library – founded by King Frederik III in 17th century – is courting a new controversy by classifying the cartoons as “historic” objects alongside other Danish treasures, such as original manuscripts by Martin Luther.
"We hope we can secure all of the works to preserve them for the future.
The caricatures have become a part of Danish history,” Royal Library spokesperson Jytte Kjaergaard told the UK's Art Newspaper. But the images are likely to remain locked away from the public gaze.
"We are not interested in an exhibition, we are interested in them being kept safe for future generations,” the Royal Library spokeswoman said.
"This is the obvious place to keep them because we have all the security measures in place. It would be very difficult for a private person to come in and sabotage them because to see them for research purposes you will need a letter of consent from your university professor. They will be treated like any rare book.”
However, other Danish museums may be planning to show the works.
”If the library acquires them, we would like to show them together with media reports about the publication and the protests against it,” Ervin Nielsen, director of Denmark's Media Museum said.
Kasem Said Ahmad, a spokesman for the Danish Muslim Society, which led the campaign against the cartoons said: “We will not be holding any demonstrations as we got nothing from the Danish courts when we tried to sue the newspapers. We will ignore all provocations in future.”
The images, one of which shows depicts Mohammed with a bomb in his turban, were printed first in Denmark and then in Norway, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.
Dozens of protestors died during subsequent demonstrations in Afghanistan and Somalia as Danish and other European embassies were attacked.
Four men are currently serving jail terms in the Britain for various incitement offences at a demonstration outside the Danish Embassy in London in February 2006.
Good. The deaths resulting from the islam-o-nazi riots will remind people.
“There is no such thing as moderate Islam or moderate Muslim. These so called moderates are either ignorant of Islam or hypocrites who try to pull the wool over your eyes. Do not listen to them. Do not encourage their deceptive talk. Accept nothing short of the total eradication of Islam. This disease must be wiped out. There can’t be a moderate Islam just as there is no such thing as healthy disease or sensible insanity. Islam is extreme. To fight Islamic extremism you have to fight Islam. There is no middle ground. Either you eradicate Islam or Islam will eradicate you. The choice is yours.”
Ali Sina is the editor of Faithfreedom.org.
Have the Fire Brigade at the ready.
Raise your hand if you would like to be the insurance company insuring this building.
Daring to post drawings of Muhammed and, thus, risk the ire of Muslims is news. Can we be far behind?
“Accept nothing short of the total eradication of Islam. This disease must be wiped out.”
I don’t know who you are, but run for the presidency and you’ll have my vote and any vote that I can beg, steal or borrow.
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