Michel Boucher wrote:

> Are you seriously suggesting that the Jyllands-Posten, a conservative
> anti-immigration newspaper with an avowed anti-islamic stance before
> the event, did not know that the caricatures would result in a major
> upset among muslims?
>
> See Decision by the Council of the Press in a matter of race
> discrimination brought against the Jyllands-Posten, Copenhagen March
> 20th, 2002:
>
> "Regardless the current debate about crimes committed by refugees and
> immigrants we find that in the concrete case it is irrelevant to
> mention the nationality of the two [Somali] sisters. In publishing
> this information the newspaper has violated good press ethics,
> according to section C. 4 in the guiding rules for good press ethics,
> and therefore the council finds a basis for stating criticism of the
> newspaper. Section C 4. states: "Any mention of family relations,
> occupation, race, nationality, faith or relationship to an
> organisation ought to be avoided, unless this has a direct relevance
> to the case."
>
> http://www.retsinfo.dk/_GETDOC_/ACCN...25-afgrTARGET=
>
> Originally pro-fascist, the Jyllands-Posten has recent published a
> number of racist and specifically anti-islamic comic books:
>
> "Disguised as a Dane - a commentary to the current migration of
> peoples." (1994) The frontcover shows a man dressed in Arabic attire,
> shocked by his mirror image which shows him in Western dress.
>
> "Other published books include Ayaan Hirsi Ali "I Accuse". The well
> known Somali dissident who was officially recieved by the Prime
> Minister during the build up to Mohammed cartoon crisis. And Irshad
> Manji's book "The Problem with Islam" (2005)."

How was I supposed to know about their alleged conservative and
anti-immigrant stand? I don't read Danish. But it is interesting that
they cite a review of "The Trouble with Islam". I read that book a few
months ago and found it quite interesting. It is written by Moslem who
criticizes some aspects of contemporary Islam as a religion based on the
Quran but a culture based on arabic dessert culture, and that many of the
modern practices and teachings are at odds with the teachings of the
Quran.

> It seems on the face of it to be a question of freedom of speech, but
> really it's a thin disguise for racism and hate literature.

I see. Their solicitation of cartoons to explore the nature of self
censorship is a thin disguise for racism and hate, but the racist and
violent reaction is...... ?????? Son of a gun, they elicited the racism
and hatred of that culture.