Muslim furor in the Middle East and other parts of the world touched off by the appearance of cartoon depictions of the prophet Muhammad has led to diplomatic rows, embassy burnings and violent protests. It now begs serious thought about how the media should exercise the rights to freedom of the press and expression, important principles in democratic society.
The 12 cartoons first appeared in the Sept. 30, 2005, issue of Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten, a conservative Danish newspaper with a circulation of 150,000. When they first appeared, the cartoons drew little attention. Death threats, however, in mid-October against two of the artists who drew the cartoons led to public anti-Muslim discourse in Denmark. This in turn caused Muslim protests in the country and diplomatic protests from Islamic states. Then, on Jan. 10, the printing of a selection of the cartoons by a Norwegian Christian publication triggered further diplomatic protests and a boycott of Danish goods.
This month, newspapers in European countries such as France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and the Czech Republic have printed the cartoons, again drawing furious reactions from Muslims. The newspapers have cited their rights to freedom of expression and the press in carrying the cartoons. Although some non-European media also printed the cartoons, most influential newspapers in the United States and Britain have refrained from doing so.