Cartoon #243: “Cartoon Prophets”

Muslims have been staging demonstrations against some cartoons, first published in a Denmark newspaper last September. The allegedly sacrilegious editorial cartoons have been republished in other newspapers since then, and in recent weeks, to show support for freedom of speech and freedom of the press.

Please note one of those demonstrations in particular. Thursday, Muslim religious students in Multan, Pakistan burned an effigy of Denmark’s Prime Minister Andres Fogh Rasmussen (Associated Press wire photo published Friday, February 3, 2006).

What’s wrong with this picture?

First, Muslims interpret Muhammad’s teachings as strictly prohibiting any depictions of humans or animals. If pictures of the Prophet Muhammad are strictly forbidden, how do Muslims know when he is being depicted? If they accept such a picture as a blasphemous image of their holy leader, they themselves are committing the sacrilege they despise. They somehow believe it is Muhammad’s image, and believe the image to be sacred — which is idolatry.

Second, Islam’s prohibition against images of people (in this case their beloved prophet) is reportedly the main reason for their anti-cartoon protests. It is blasphemy (not to mention hypocrisy), therefore, for Muslim religious students to create an effigy.

Third, the demonstrators are posing for the cameras (still and video), instead of repelling the infidel photographers. By posing, each protester is a co-creator of his own forbidden portrait.

Some government leaders in Muslim countries are also wondering about these so-called protests. A report on National Public Radio’s Morning Edition, Monday, noted that officials intend to investigate the possible influence of “outside” (read U.S.) Intelligence behind the demonstrations.