Mohammed cartoons row: managing director of France Soir sacked
France Soir, the French daily that yesterday re-printed the infamous Mohammed cartoons originally published by Danish paper Jyllands Posten in September 2005 (see previous posting and here and here), has fired its managing director Jacques Lefranc and issued an apology for the re-printing of the cartoons.
Raymond Lakah, owner of France Soir, stated he had "decided to remove Jacques Lefranc as managing director of the publication as a powerful sign of respect for the intimate beliefs and convictions of every individual .. We express our regrets to the Muslim community and all people who were shocked by the publication" of the caricatures.
France's Foreign Minister made the following statement concerning the reprinting of the cartoons: "A French daily reprinted cartoons published in the Danish press ... France is a country where respect and tolerance are associated with freedom of expression ... France condemns everything that wounds individuals' beliefs or religious convictions."
Dalil Boubakeur, head of the French Council for the Muslim religion described France Soir's actions as "real provocation." The paper had declared that the decision to publish the cartoons came "not from an appetite for gratuitous publication, but because they constitute the subject of a controversy on a global scale which has done nothing to maintain balance and mutual limits in democracy, respect of religious beliefs and freedom of expression."
France Soir was not the only newspaper to reprint the caricatures, newspapers in the Czech Republic, Italy, Germany, Holland, Spain and Switzerland reprinted all or some of the cartoons, and still more papers plan to publish them. In the US, The Los Angeles Times plans to reprint them this weekend.
Arnaud Levy editor in chief of France Soir asserted there had been no coordination amongst European papers as regards the reprinting of the cartoons.
Today's edition of France Soir carries no mention of the sacking of the managing director of publication. It does however include an editorial defending yesterday's publication of the caricatures.
Serge Faubert writes: "The best way to fight against censorship is to prevent censorship from happening. In this circumstance that meant publishing the cartoons. Like about 10 other European newspapers did at the same time. This does not mean we approve of the message of these cartoons. We have just made Voltaire's formula our own; The formula, in substance says the following: 'I do not agree with what you have to say, but I will fight for your right to say it'. We have no desire to provoke, to add fuel to the fire as some have suggested. A fundamental principle guarenteeing democracy and secular society is under threat. To say nothing is to retreat; To where, To when?"
Alongside the editorial are four famously controversial pictures concerned blasphelmous towards Christianity.
Sources: AFP (registration required), Media Guardian, (through the EJC), The International Herald Tribune, Newspaperindex.com
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Un Français dit ma poule à sa bien-aimée, mais il ne peut plus lui envoyer ou écrire un poulet, de crainte de la faire attraper une grippe d’oiseaux
good morning.....I want to ask did you choase this subject to make fun on it randomizationly or in purpose.... you can find thousends subjects for laughing.....why you had choasen this subjuct .....we did not make fun of Jeases or other prophet but we knew that you are slaving devils you are worse than them ...you had made evry thing in the life unforbidden until to live and make love with the animals....so it is not strange to see like these actions from you....
hi i just deeply socked to see this cartoon on internet. it should be banned. why you people want to create a problem, we know that you dont care about your religion we are care about our religion. and thats why these people will rewarded very soon by Allah Subhanallah taala Insallah dont worry.
Well one thing is shown by all this incident that european's think they are a different species and are above all. Then they try to experiment with other people's belief's, just for fun sake. This clearly shows that they have no character of their own. They did have brain, knowledge , edge in the technology, but they don't have wisdom, which is most important for a person to be civilized.Whose country's leaders don't have character & yet that grows at steady pace, that country isn't growing, but heading for destruction. In some point of that country will have internal war & the technology will be utilised to destroy. It is a fact that the more power u have, the more responsibility u carry. if they don't show responsibility, they are more likely to be robbed of power. Europeans certainly have not shown responsible act by publishing the caricature. In future some1 will publish caricature of Jesus. They have just creating hatered among the people. If this goes in the future, it will ceratinly lead to World War III . I don't belong to Islam. But i condemn this type of acts. These acts can only seed the hatered among the people.
This type of free speech is the type of behaviour of FACISTS and MARXISTS. We should follow the example of Aristotle and follow the middle course in all things. Or the philosophy of British LIBERALISM - That everyone is to be free as lonmg as it does not infringe the rights of others. Not TORYism that says Freedom only in the hands of the powerful.
Where is all this FACISM comming from. Phedophiles, Gays, Zionists are all HOLY COWS not to be criticised why is it OPEN RANGE on ISLAM. One fears to consider conspiracy theories.
IS it just a way to expand NEO CONism in EUROPE? A world state?
Muslims are in the majority Peace Loving people who feel this hurt personally and disapprove of so called ISLAMIC FUNDALMENTALISM. That is another name for Arab [et al] NATIONALISM. The proponents of this creed are not religious at all and follow the practice of Musaylima the false Prophet.
STOP ALL THIS LET US ALL SEE SENSE UNLESS THE US WANT TO GARRISON THE WHOLE MIDDLE EAST
the issue is simple,muslims came to europe of their own free will,they know our secular free speech principles so why are they here? are they willing to accept these ideals along with a better life in the west? if not then leave !flights are cheap,at least until the environmentalist fanatics end them.
Fahad Zafar said : "Please, punish these criminals openly, so that a correct signal is sent to Muslim World."
Dear Fahad, YOU just send the CORRECT signal to the world! I.e.: Muslims are INTOLERANT and FANATICS! No "Judicial Commission" can punish Free Speech and Free Opinion! Free THOUGHT, got it?
If in 2006 YOU can still have this attitude, then yes, we are all wrong: it isn't about terrorists, it's about Muslims!
On 9/11 I haven't blamed Muslims, but only a bunch of terrorists. Now, after the Danish episode, I know that you're all narrow-minded, sorry to say that. You're living in A.D. 600, folks!
I can understand the Muslims' outrage at the way the Prophet Mohamad was pictured in those cartoons. I can not understand their violent reactions. Didn't Mohamad preach understanding, tolerance, and forgiveness? Would Mohamad have encouraged the sacking of Danish property overseas and the violent threats to Danish people? And frankly, would Mohamad support terrorism? As bad as they may be to some, these cartoons haven't killed anybody, but Muslim terrorists kill people (and themselves!) everyday. Muslim faithful, be true to your religion and your prophet. Neither preaches violence, both preach tolerance.
it is intresting that a silly cartoon is
more inportant than human life .
i think people who are irritated
by the cartoons they should go live in there
own muslism country - now i think president
bush leaves something to be desired but,
what i have seen of the demonstrations
i would rather have him than muhammud.
i would like to see the cartoons published
in all americans papers- we do have
freedom of the press that americans died
for in past and in the now . mebob
I am a muslim I do believe in freedom but to an extends that DOESE NOT hurt or bodder
anyone. can we walk on the street of a free country and pulling face to someone passing by and say it,s a free world and i wanted to express my feeling?
or can a muslim magazine draw a cartoon of mosses or jesus expressing their view and say they were crookes and so their followers? can we say in the 21st century catholics are so stupid and ignorant that accept such a huge expenditure of vatican and the hypocrites who live and supposedly worshiping god in there on my behalf ?
of coures we can we live in a free world and no one should get offended by such a comments but the problem of the overreaction of some muslims in the world is not their real view and reaction as MOHAMAD himself did not react to so many insults he got from his enemies 14 centuries ago were europe and america did not know the meaning of freedom and human rights.
these reactions to such a petty issue is the provocation of america and israeal to give a very bad impression about muslim to the world.america's interest in such a province as mid-east as we all know is oil and these poor pepole happend to be muslims they are resisting against force and opperesion and west is trying to make a monsterous image of them
I believe all these riots and harsh reaction is not the will of all muslims but we do admit we are very disapointed with these cartoons and your excuse for freedom of press. as we all know in the country of FREEDOM where the statue of LIBERTY is the symbol of their claim, still black and many people are suffering from that freedom policy.
with the hope of real freedom in the world.
When Britain and France occupied so many
countries in the past, these countries
did not called this terrorism.
Although, the Britain and France the
whole country - the government, army and the folks- and now when nineteen men
attacked the US, they are only nineteen men, the US and the EU called the whole
arab counties and muslims terrorits.
Shame to all of those who support the publishing of this material but they are not to be blamed. For those who killed their prophet with their own hands ( at least that is what they believe although we as muslims have certain faith that ISA son of Meryam is with God and will return to kill Jaddal ), it is really nothing to depict Muhammad Peace be upon him as ...... ( I dont even want to use the words.).
Muslims are always at loss as the cannot redicule any of the God's 124000 prophets as to us they have equal respect.
May God bring all those to his path who have forgot their creator and the reason for their creation. Ameen
I as a muslim soley comdem the cartoons printed by a foolish editor who does not know the limits of liberty, freedom of expression and freedom of speech. Condeming other religion and depicting harsh and insane cartoons on prophets of any religion is not freedom of expression.
In my view no person has the right to say bad about any other religion.
The people who are saying islam as terrorist religion kindly see the history of British, Europe, America who had colonised many nations for hundreds of years and what America did with japan, vietanam, russia. Who divided russia it is the master plan of America. America has created terrorists and still creating terrorists.
I don't know what's the big deal about those cartoons. They're just drawings! As a "western-person", I wouldn't feel injured or touched if any editor published a cartoon of Jesus preaching the "Peace of God" to come (USA) while holding nuclear bombs under his arms. ¡¡IT'S A BLOODY CARTOON!!
Such irrational reaction is totally stupid. Muslim should be reacting against western (USA) opression to get oil from Irak... against stupid western (USA, Germany, etc.) pressure to avoid Iran from using nuclear tech. Those are the real facts for which Mid-east should be standing against!
Cartoons are just cartoons, it's humorous and it's quite meaningless... just simple fun. I've seen tons of cartoons making fun of Christianism and I've never seen a crowd of christians destroying an embassy... not only we have droit (right) to make fun of god, but we should do it more often. When religion is taken too serious, that's when troubles begin!
Please, dear muslims, think first, then act.
Salut!
Ale de Neco
denmark murdabad danmark is derty
muhmud , c'est le meilleur prophet chez le dieu .
malheureusement,votre journal n'avait pas une image clear sur le bon les caractéres de prophet muhumud.c'est un homme spirétiel,sécrétaire,aime les gens,.c'est un vrais maitre pour le monde .
alors, vous doivent lire documents relégieues avant de déssiner le mon meilleur prophet.merci
I don't think most Muslims have a clue and should understand the fundamentalisms within there so called religion. Like the Seven golden gates and where the Jin fit into there lives. How dare they put a spin on word fundamentalism as it reflexs back to basics not go to war and be a racist.
Well I am white/free and can be what I want to be. How come people are obsessed with the prophet and not the source? and why are so Vulnerable that a cartoon can send them potty eve thou they haven't seen it? Why do they feel that they can impose there ideology on other and pass judgement? Why don't they admit the truth about the connect to Drugs and War, it not about islam but about corpution and pawns.
Right rant over....feel better.
Peter
Hello,
I have read your blog with great interest, and have a small request for
you.
We are a group of journalism students who are covering the sportsconference
Play the Game on Iceland.
Thursday Andrew Moger will be speaking at the conference about exactly this subject: Media and the rights to cover sports events.
We are hoping to create a dialogue on our page about the issue, and would
greatly appreciate if you would look by our webpage, www.thepulse2007.org,
and take part in the debate allready now!
Youre experience and knowledge would be very welcome,
Regards
Frederikke Toemmergaard
The Pulse