The Middle East part 2

[denoir 0]

Sweden shuts website over cartoon [bBC]

Quote[/b] ]The Swedish government has moved to shut down the website of a far-right political party's newspaper over cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad.

The site's host, Levonline, pulled the plug on the website of the Swedish Democrats' SD-Kuriren newspaper after consulting with the government.

It is believed to be the first time a Western government has intervened to block a publication in the growing row. Kuriren editor Richard Jomshof said the government was breaking the law.

"We have to do something about it. This is illegal. They can't do this just because we are a small magazine," he told the BBC News website.

The Swedish Democrats are a small anti-immigrant party with no representatives in parliament, but a few local elected officials. Jomshof said the newspaper had a print run of about 30,000.

Call for cartoons

He had asked readers to send in their own Muhammad cartoons, but he denies intending to offend Muslims. His website briefly posted a picture showing Muhammad from the rear, looking into a mirror, with his eyes blacked out - an image he said was about self-censorship. "It was directed at the Swedish government and Swedish magazines," Jomshof said.

"They are cowards for not standing by the Danish people and Jyllands-Posten [Danish newspaper which first published controversial cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad last year]."

Muslims around the world have demonstrated against the cartoons since they were republished in a number of European newspapers at the end of January. Swedish Foreign Minister Laila Freivalds described Kuriren's move as "a provocation" by "a small group of extremists".

"I will defend freedom of the press no matter what the circumstances, but I strongly condemn the provocation by SD-Kuriren. It displays a complete lack of respect," she said in a statement.

Site back up

Levonline CEO Turkel Nyberg told the BBC News website his company had pulled the plug on the site after discussions with the foreign ministry and the security police.

"It seemed like it could be a bad for us and for others to have the site up. The problem was the content, which was these Muhammad pictures," he said.

He said he had been told by the government that Arab media were carrying reports about SD-Kuriren's call for cartoons about Muhammad. Sweden - which opposed the war in Iraq and is a leading donor to the Middle East - has largely avoided becoming the target of Muslim anger over the cartoons.

The SD-Kuriren website is currently back online via a back-up server.

"All they did was close down some links to the server. We have other links that are still working," Jomshof said.

Not that I'm that surprised, but it is still disgusting. Sverigedemokraterna are a bunch of racist thugs, but the government had no place shutting that website down.

The problem in Sweden is that everybody is afraid of confrontation -- any confrontation, that they are willing to do anything just to avoid it.  There is a complete lack of backbone when it comes to defending our values.

They managed to avoid violating the constitution by convincing the ISP to shut it down, rather than enforcing it themselves.  But they certainly violated the spirit of the constitution.  The governments should in no way try to interfere with the freedom of press, even if it is a web site that belongs to a bunch of racist assholes.

[Dallas 9]

Here's another link, hope it's better:

[Garcia 0]

Quote[/b] ]1st: The problem is not that they choose to print something, and chooses to not print something else. It's their argument for not printing the Jesus cartoons that's the problem. When they refuse to print them because of the reactions, they shouldn't have printed the muhammed-cartoons cause of the same reason. But that's just my opinion.

Do you know the argument?

The  argument for not printing them was simply.... The quality wasnt good enough.

If you are looking for an anti-christian newspaper here in Denmark - JP is probably the one.

Yea, I saw your previous post, but I was too lazy to change my own

Though, the guy that made the Jesus cartoons said they were rejected cause JP was afraid of the reactions...and now Dallas posted what might seem like proof that they rejected them cause of that.

Well... I havent heard that response before. And honestly I dont know what to belief. I cant open up the pic with the response because of a timeout  :/ ?

Can you guys see it?

It might just be a problem with imagehack.

I can see it, and it seems liabal. Either the author have done a lot of work just for some PR, or JP lied and said they rejected cause of quality just to have an excuse to not show them, but still not seem like they're treating christianity "better" than Islam.

[Espectro (DayZ) 0]

I can see it as well...

It does look authentic :/

But still, I dont think its just about this single newspaper. We have several magazines which illustrates Jesus in a ackward and funny way (just like the muhammed cartoons).

I think its sad to see the swedish government pull the plug on that website. Sure it was probably a crappy website, but its their right to make drawings of a prophet.

//Edit btw. I think the jesus ressurection picture is hillarious

[GoOB 0]

They managed to avoid violating the constitution by convincing the ISP to shut it down, rather than enforcing it themselves.

Has it become clear yet if they simply warned the host about the potentially dangerous situation the content on SD-kurirens site could pose to Swedes abroad, or if they actually told them straight out to shut down the website? In the first case it's just SÄPO's and the foreign ministeries duty... But on the other hand they should have warned the publicist of SD-kuriren instead of the manager of their web-host...

[LennyD 0]

I think its sad to see the swedish government pull the plug on that website. Sure it was probably a crappy website, but its their right to make drawings of a prophet.

Well, this is starting to get moronic.

Obviously every ultra right webside pics up all of this now to push the anti-imigrant-feelings. But what else do you expect from those illeducated nitwits...i put them on the same step as the muslim extremists.

I don't now the webside and what they posted...but IF they start shutting down websides just because of these cartoons we start moving to systes of censoring, shown in china for a long time...or in the iran now. This IS censorship...

What about websides showing the beheading of someone....they should be closed before.

A mad, dancing banana for the freedom of speech in sweden

[denoir 0]

They managed to avoid violating the constitution by convincing the ISP to shut it down, rather than enforcing it themselves.

Has it become clear yet if they simply warned the host about the potentially dangerous situation the content on SD-kurirens site could pose to Swedes abroad, or if they actually told them straight out to shut down the website? In the first case it's just SÄPO's and the foreign ministeries duty... But on the other hand they should have warned the publicist of SD-kuriren instead of the manager of their web-host...

As I understand it, they didn't shut it down to themselves. They talked to the ISP and told that the web site could endanger Swedish lives and strongly recommend that they shut it down. The ISP followed the recommendation -- but they were not forced, at least not technically.

I don't agree that they were doing the job in this case. The controversy was well known to everybody at the time, so the security police had little to contribute in the way of information. They were just exercising pressure. And if they should've warned somebody its should've been the editor of the newspaper and not the ISP.

[EiZei 0]

Apparently the finnish national bureau of investigation is currently investigating if a certain nationalist organization commited a crime by publishing the JP-Muhammed pictures. The request apparently came from the finnish interior ministry.

The chairman of the greater parliament commitee and a conservative coalition MP Jari Vilen is also demanding that the pictures need to be removed because they "endanger the safety of Finland."

Truly embarrassing.

[theavonlady 2]

Dropping like flies.

Excerpt from Mohammed cartoons a major mistake: Schroeder:

Quote[/b] ]

Former German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder Saturday criticized the publication of cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed by several European newspapers.

In an address to an international audience at the Jeddah Economic Forum, Schroeder called the publication "a major mistake" and "we should return now to a reasonable and acceptable way to respect sanctities and beliefs".

UPDATE:

They've kidnapped Hagar!

[LennyD 0]

Quote[/b] ]Former German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder....

What do you expect? That bloke has done nothing right in his "rign" (exept from cleaning up visa-scandals).

But generally that's the center-left point of view. Wonder why intire europe falls now....so afrait of riots like the one in france last jear??? Gee...they relly have us at our b....ottoms now

Any intel on the danes leaft indonesia in a hurry???

[Blake 0]

Quote[/b] ]The chairman of the greater parliament commitee and a conservative coalition MP Jari Vilen is also demanding that the pictures need to be removed because they "endanger the safety of Finland."

This is much more than 'excercising pressure' like in Sweden, now political leadership is actually making demands...Doesn't look too good. Personally I don't even know how 'copypaste-degree Vilen' ever snaked his way up so high in politics.

[vektorboson 8]

Here we go again...

German Army in World Cup Caricature

On this picture it reads: "Why the German Army has to take part in the World Cup."

SPIEGEL online Article (German)

Short: There is a debate in Germany about the role of the German Army in the World Cup. Conservative politicians want the German Army to secure the World Cup, fearing there could be terrorist attacks.

This needs a change of the German constitution; the German constitution forbids using the army for inner policy. It's interesting how our politicians try to hollow out our constitution...

This is, what the caricature is about: Stupid reasons to use the German Army for the World Cup...

But the effect was, that many Iranians (even exiles) felt insulted and wrote to the artist and called him names; even death threats were among the mails. Now the Iranian embassy demands an excusion from the posting newspaper "Tagesspiegel".

The artist meanwhile moved away and changed his phone number...  

EDIT:

Article in the Tagesspiegel (German)

The picture above was released on February 10th.

[theavonlady 2]

Here we go again...

German Army in World Cup Caricature

On this picture it reads: "Why the German Army has to take part in the World Cup."

Life imitates art:

Quote[/b] ]Iran’s suicide bombers threaten to “burn down†U.S. interests

Mon. 13 Feb 2006

Iran Focus

Tehran, Iran, Feb. 13 – A senior commander of Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) vowed that following the printing of insulting cartoons of Islam’s prophet Muhammad in European dailies, the Islamic Republic’s suicide volunteers abroad were being placed on readiness alert to attack Unites States and Israeli interests.

Mohammad-Reza Jaafari, the commander of Iran’s “Lovers of Martyrdom Garrison†and a Brigadier General in the IRGC, said, “Now that America is after gaining allies against the righteous Islamic Republic and wants to attack our sanctities, members of the martyrdom-seeking garrisons across the world have been put on alert so that if the Islamic Republic of Iran receives the smallest threat, the American and Israeli strategic interests will be burnt down everywhereâ€.

He was speaking to a group of suicide volunteers in Shahr-Rey, on the outskirts of Tehran, on Saturday evening.

<SNIP>

[FatNinjaKid 0]

Quote[/b] ]

Let's try a little intolerance

By Nigel Farndale

(Filed: 12/02/2006)

Abu Hamza has done us a favour, in a way. He has forced us to question what, if anything, a liberal democracy like ours actually believes in. There was a time when we could have answered unequivocally: "Tolerance". But somewhere along the line, without anyone being consulted, this seems to have been watered down to "empathy" and that equally fashionable word "respect".

This is a shame because tolerance is a more useful and muscular concept. It implies that other people should have the right to be who they are and, within reason, do what they do, but that we in turn should have the right to withhold our respect for them.

{snip}

That pretty much sums it up for me.

[xawery 0]

'Tolerance' a muscular term? Watered down to 'respect'? If anything, 'tolerance' is a very negative concept. It implies concious coping with some undesirable circumstance. In this view, 'respect' is a much more 'muscular' term - it suggest accepting a different outlook on the world, instead of suffering it for the sake of societal cohesiveness.

The term respect is often misinterpreted - many people assume that having respect for a certain concept means accepting its superiority. That is an incorrect interpratation. To respect something means to regard it with equal importance as one's own beliefs. To 'tolerate' something means quite the opposite - it assumes the superiority of one's own beliefs, but suggests the detached willingness to ignore the supposed inferiority of alien beliefs, for whatever reason... Hardly the optimal solution.

[Espectro (DayZ) 0]

'Tolerance' a muscular term? Watered down to 'respect'? If anything, 'tolerance' is a very negative concept. It implies concious coping with some undesirable circumstance. In this view, 'respect' is a much more 'muscular' term - it suggest accepting a different outlook on the world, instead of suffering it for the sake of societal cohesiveness.

The term respect is often misinterpreted - many people assume that having respect for a certain concept means accepting its superiority. That is an incorrect interpratation. To respect something means to regard it with equal importance as one's own beliefs. To 'tolerate' something means quite the opposite - it assumes the superiority of one's own beliefs, but suggests the detached willingness to ignore the supposed inferiority of alien beliefs, for whatever reason... Hardly the optimal solution.

True, but I fail to see why that is important, since most people see "Tolerance" as a positive thing... No matter what the original meaning of the word is.

Anyway, check out these two brave fellars:

http://www.dailymotion.com/search/islamistes/video/46200

[LennyD 0]

Israeli group announces anti-Semitic cartoons contest!

-> http://www.boomka.org/

Quote[/b] ] “No Iranian will beat us on our home turf!â€

... you have to love the israelis. Best answer to the bs going on. We schould put up a christian contest here to..

Watch the iranian side, too -> http://www.irancartoon.com/

WINSTON CHURCHILL ON ISLAM - SPEECH IN 1899 posted at militaryphotos.net (found by SPOR)

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?t=72728

Quote[/b] ]Anyway, check out these two brave fellars:

]http://www.dailymotion.com/search/islamistes/video/46200

...I certainly wouldn't have to guts to do that...just try to catch up what some of the muslims say. They wheren't far from beeing lynched the "peacefull islamic way"...gee, they are allowed to demonstrate, but can't stand oposition

Edit:

WARNING: The cartoon-contest-sides linked here may contain pictures that could offend you. Due to the frequently changing content it is not possible for me to guarantee non-offensive content (well, as far as the level of tollerance seems to be quite low with some people....these ppl should just stay away from the links).

So if a funny man with a blasting device on his head is to much for you...DON'T visit the links provided here.

[Nemesis6 0]

lynched the "peacefull islamic way"...

*COUGH* Ramallah, 2000 *COUGH*

Speaking of which, here's my opinion for the moment - The road to peace is not paved with Hamas. Well, in one sense it is... remember Sheikh Ahmed Yassin? One minute - The pediatrician of death in a wheelchair. The next - Yassinerated/splattered all over the road. In that sense, I hope the road to peace is paved with Hamas.

[denoir 0]

I cannot help but to marvel at the stupidity and shortsightedness of the militant Islamists.  Suppose they would actually accomplish their stated goal and destroy the West.  Is that really such a good idea for people who live in the desert and import most of the stuff such as food and water?  I mean, let's face it, there are three things in the Middle East: sand, camels and oil.  So what were they going to do after they've eaten their last camel?

When the Islamic empire reached its height in the 11th century, its power was based around one single thing: trade.  And for trade to work you have to resist the temptation to kill the people you trade with.  The Muslims at that time understood that perfectly and hence were very open to ideas from other cultures.  This was what made the early Muslim societies world leaders in science, medicine, philosophy -- you name it.

The decline of that society was triggered by the invasions of barbarians from Europe and Mongolia, but it was not the barbarians themselves the destroyed the Empire.  The Muslims did it all by themselves, by closing up their society and thus hurting the trade.  Their once grand empire was reduced to a patchwork of primitive tribal societies.  It was first with the discovery of oil that they could take up trade again and thus getting money for having something more than a simple agricultural society.

Incidentally the contact that the European barbarians had with the enlightened Islamic empire during the Crusades, changed Europe significantly.  Ultimately it led to the Renaissance which laid the foundation of today's liberal Western culture.

[theavonlady 2]

Relax. They are only killing you softly with their song.

Sing along:

Norway and Sweden Enforce Sharia

New Plateaus in Appeasement

The UK Arm of the Muslim Brotherhood

Good luck, Europe!

[LennyD 0]

Anyway, check out these two brave fellars:

http://www.dailymotion.com/search/islamistes/video/46200

Want to read the entire story?

-> http://no-pasaran.blogspot.com/2006....ce.html

Quote[/b] ]"Somebody's got to stand up for free speech", replies the French protestor

Great guys..

BTW: There is a portrai of Mohammed on the US supreme court. Next to Justinian and king Charlemagne.

Muslims..DO NOT CLICK!!!! OFFENSIVE!!

There has been a try to demand a removeal in 1997...but the US simply said s.t. like "get lost".

[M4XSs 0]

Quote[/b] ] there are three things in the Middle East: sand, camels and oil. So what were they going to do after they've eaten their last camel?

Nice to know how much you know about the Middle East!

The drawings were used in pathetic way to cause all of those problems, and they are unnecessary and in a bad time, and I really don’t understand why specific people and groups trying to make the issue bigger in both sides, or just spreading hate.

Plus in the digital ground things are even worst!

Everyone just getting involved without knowing a tit about the situation..

[EiZei 0]

Everyone just getting involved without knowing a tit about the situation..

1. Somebody draws some rather uninsightful pictures about muhammed of which one suggests that islam is a violent religion.

2. Time passes.

3. For some reason followers of islam start acting violently (for.. uhh.. being described as violent) and demanding that the west violate it's most sacred universal value - freedom of speech.

4. Some people get really annoyed (this is where I come in).

So, what am I being so ignorant about? What am I missing here? Is this an enormous time-travelling zionist plot?

[theavonlady 2]

Is this an enormous time-travelling zionist plot?

Indeed, I personally do a lot of plotzing.

[M4XSs 0]

Everyone just getting involved without knowing a tit about the situation..

1. Somebody draws some rather uninsightful pictures about muhammed of which one suggests that islam is a violent religion.

2. Time passes.

3. For some reason followers of islam start acting violently (for.. uhh.. being described as violent) and demanding that the west violate it's most sacred universal value - freedom of speech.

4. Some people get really annoyed (this is where I come in).

So, what am I being so ignorant about? What am I missing here? Is this an enormous time-travelling zionist plot?

That’s overall description not necessarily include you, it describes everyone with destructive input or action here or in the world!

Sine I see the huge amount of anger on all the sides involved can be only called *stupid*.

The bad thing is some people instead of containing the problem trying to make bigger here or on the internet or the world!