Russian editor fined for publishing Mohammed cartoons

Anna Smirnova, the editor of Russian weekly Nash Region, has been found guilty of "deliberately stirring up religious hatred and intolerance" and of "abusing her position", she has also been fined approximately 3,000 euros, all of this for publishing the infamous Mohammed cartoons 2 months ago. Smirnova's husband, and owner of the now defunct weekly, explained that contrary to the court ruling the publication of the cartoons was "aimed against stirring up religious hatred" he also asserted that his wife would be appealing the court decision.

The Russian paper Gorodskiye Vesti was closed down by Volgograd's mayor after it published an original cartoon commenting on the Mohammed cartoons row, which included an image of Mohammed (see previous posting).

Russian President Vladimir Putin has condemned publication of the cartoons in line with his concern that such acts may 'destabilise' Russia, since it has 20 million Muslim inhabitants. 

Source: Irish Examiner, For full coverage of the Mohammed cartoons row, see Editors Weblog previous postings and here and here and here