The Danish Cartoon Outrage
Let's compare the different reactions in Muslim communities between the Danish Cartoon and October 7th, 2023.
The incident involving the Muhammad cartoons refers to a significant and controversial series of events that began in 2005 and escalated over several years. The initial spark for this controversy was the publication of 12 editorial cartoons depicting the Islamic prophet Muhammad in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten on 30 September 2005. The cartoons were intended to contribute to the debate about criticism of Islam and self-censorship.
The decision to publish these cartoons came from a reaction to the perceived self-censorship and fear surrounding depictions of Muhammad. Traditionally, many Muslims believe that visual representations of prophets, particularly Muhammad, are forbidden to prevent idolatry. The Jyllands-Posten editorial team argued that the cartoons were an exercise in free speech and a response to the growing influence of radical Islam.
The publication of the cartoons initially received limited attention within Denmark, with some critical responses from Danish Muslims and community leaders. However, the issue escalated as ambassadors from Muslim-majority countries in Denmark demanded government action against the newspaper, which the Danish government refused, citing freedom of the press.
The controversy gained international attention in early 2006, when other newspapers in Europe and beyond reprinted the cartoons in solidarity with Jyllands-Posten and in defence of free speech. This led to widespread protests in many Muslim-majority countries, which varied in intensity. In some places, the protests were peaceful, but in others, they turned violent, resulting in several deaths and significant property damage.
The cartoons' publication led to diplomatic tensions between Denmark and several Muslim-majority countries. Danish embassies were attacked and set on fire in Syria, Lebanon, and Iran. In addition, Danish goods were boycotted in several Muslim countries, leading to significant economic losses for Danish companies.
The incident had lasting implications for global discussions on free speech, the role of the media, and respect for religious beliefs. It highlighted the clash between Western values of free expression and Islam.
In the years following the initial incident, there have been several other instances where depictions of Muhammad have led to violent reactions. For example, the Charlie Hebdo shooting in Paris in January 2015, where journalists at the French satirical weekly magazine were attacked for publishing cartoons of Muhammad, resulted in the deaths of 12 people. This incident further underscored the ongoing tension between free speech and religious sensitivities.
I thought it would be a fun exercise to compare the outrage generated in Muslim countries and communities for both the Danish cartoon and the Hamas murderous rampage of October 7th, 2023.
Let start with the demonstrations against the publication of the cartoons and related events:
Syria
Damascus: On February 4, 2006, the Danish and Norwegian embassies were set on fire by protesters.
Aleppo: On February 5, 2006, protesters attacked the Danish consulate.
Lebanon
Beirut: On February 5, 2006, the Danish embassy was stormed and set on fire. Riots also erupted, causing significant damage to Christian neighborhoods.
Iran
Tehran: On February 6, 2006, hundreds of protesters attacked the Danish embassy. Subsequent protests targeted other Western embassies.
Egypt
Cairo: Large demonstrations took place, with protesters denouncing the cartoons and calling for boycotts of Danish products.
Libya
Benghazi: On February 17, 2006, a protest outside the Italian consulate turned violent, resulting in the deaths of at least 11 people.
Pakistan
Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar: Multiple protests occurred across the country, some turning violent. Danish diplomatic missions were targeted, and several people were killed in clashes.
Afghanistan
Kabul, Mazar-i-Sharif, Herat: Protests took place in several cities, resulting in at least 11 deaths due to clashes with security forces.
Indonesia
Jakarta: Protests were held outside the Danish embassy, with demonstrators calling for boycotts and apologies.
Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur: Protests took place outside the Danish embassy, with demands for respect for religious beliefs.
Bangladesh
Dhaka: Large demonstrations were held, with protesters calling for a boycott of Danish products and an apology from the Danish government.
Nigeria
Kano, Maiduguri: Violent protests resulted in deaths and significant property damage. In Maiduguri, more than a dozen people were killed, and churches were burned.
Somalia
Mogadishu: Protests occurred, with demonstrators condemning the cartoons and the perceived Western disrespect for Islam.
Jordan
Amman: Protests took place, with demonstrators calling for respect for Islamic values and an apology from Denmark.
Yemen
Sana'a: Protests were held, with demonstrators demanding action against those responsible for the cartoons.
Saudi Arabia
Riyadh, Jeddah: Protests were less intense due to strict regulations, but there were calls for boycotts and diplomatic actions.
Kuwait
Kuwait City: Protests were held outside the Danish embassy, with calls for boycotts and apologies.
United Arab Emirates
Dubai, Abu Dhabi: Smaller-scale protests and calls for boycotts occurred.
Turkey
Istanbul, Ankara: Large demonstrations were held, with protesters condemning the cartoons and calling for respect for Islamic beliefs.
Sudan
Khartoum: Protests were held, with demonstrators denouncing the cartoons and the perceived insult to Islam.
Morocco
Rabat, Casablanca: Protests took place, with calls for boycotts and respect for religious values.
United Kingdom
London: Protests by Muslim communities, with calls for respect for religious beliefs and free speech boundaries.
France
Paris: Protests and debates within the Muslim community about the balance between free speech and respect for religion.
Now let’s take a look at what happened in the same areas following October 7, especially when it became clear that Israel would not turn the other cheek:
Syria
Damascus: Large crowds gathered to express solidarity with Palestinians, condemning Israeli actions and calling for international intervention.
Lebanon
Beirut: Significant protests were held, with demonstrators voicing strong support for Palestinians and condemning Israeli military actions. Similar demonstrations took place in other cities, including Tripoli.
Iran
Massive rallies were held with participants chanting anti-Israel slogans and burning Israeli flags. Government officials joined the protests, expressing unwavering support for Palestinians.
Egypt
Cairo: Large protests occurred, particularly after Friday prayers, with demonstrators marching towards Tahrir Square and other significant landmarks, calling for an end to the Israeli occupation.
Libya
Tripoli and Benghazi: Demonstrations took place with protesters showing solidarity with Palestinians and condemning Israeli airstrikes on Gaza.
Pakistan
Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar: Numerous protests were organised by religious and political groups. In Karachi, thousands marched, condemning Israeli actions and calling for a global response.
Afghanistan
Kabul, Mazar-i-Sharif, Herat: Protests were held in various cities, with demonstrators expressing solidarity with Palestinians and denouncing Israeli military actions.
Indonesia
Jakarta: Thousands of protesters gathered in front of the U.S. and Israeli embassies, calling for an end to the violence and expressing strong support for Palestinians.
Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur: Large-scale demonstrations took place with participants marching through the city center, waving Palestinian flags and calling for international intervention.
Bangladesh
Dhaka: Thousands of people took to the streets to show solidarity with the Palestinian people. Major protests occurred in the capital, with demonstrators marching through key areas and gathering in front of significant landmarks. The protests included participants from various political and religious groups, as well as ordinary citizens.
Chittagong and other major cities: Protests were also reported in other major cities like Chittagong, with similar calls for an end to Israeli actions in Gaza and expressions of support for the Palestinian cause.
Nigeria
Abuja, Lagos: Protests were organised by various groups, expressing solidarity with Palestinians and condemning the violence in Gaza.
Somalia
Mogadishu: Demonstrations were held with participants expressing support for Palestinians and denouncing Israeli military actions.
Jordan
Amman: Large protests were held, with demonstrators marching towards the Israeli embassy and calling for an end to the occupation of Palestinian territories.
Yemen
Sana'a: Massive rallies were organised, with protesters expressing solidarity with Palestinians and condemning Israeli actions.
Saudi Arabia
Riyadh, Jeddah: Protests occurred, although less intense due to strict regulations, with participants calling for support for Palestinians.
Kuwait
Kuwait City: Demonstrations were held with protesters expressing solidarity with Palestinians and calling for international action.
United Arab Emirates
Dubai, Abu Dhabi: Smaller protests took place, with participants expressing support for Palestinians.
Turkey
Istanbul, Ankara: Large-scale protests were organised, with thousands of participants denouncing Israeli actions and expressing strong support for Palestinians.
Sudan
Khartoum: Demonstrations were held, with participants expressing solidarity with Palestinians and condemning Israeli actions.
Morocco
Rabat, Casablanca: Large protests occurred, with demonstrators calling for international intervention and an end to the violence.
United Kingdom
London: Demonstrators waved Palestinian flags, chanted slogans like "Free Palestine" and "Stop the massacre," and carried placards condemning Israeli actions in Gaza. Protests were also held in cities such as Manchester, Birmingham, and Glasgow, where thousands of demonstrators marched through city centers, expressing solidarity with Palestinians and calling for an end to Israeli military actions.
France
Thousands marched in central Paris, calling for a ceasefire and an end to the violence in Gaza. The protests were marked by chants of "Stop the cycle of violence" and "We are all Palestinians."
When it comes to outrage, Muslims only swing one way. They find outrageous when a cartoon is publish but find it perfectly acceptable when thousands of thugs invade Israel for the purpose of murdering and raping civilians including children and taking hostages. However, as soon as goes into Gaza to recover hostages and destroy Hamas, the Muslims all over the world get outraged.
Conclusion? Syria, Lebanon, Iran, Egypt, Libya, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria, Somalia, Jordan, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Turkey, Sudan, Morocco, same shit, different smell.
There were many more countries that I have not listed for space reason such as Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Eritrea, India, Kenya, Kosovo, Maldives, Mauritania, Oman, Qatar, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tunisia and Sri Lanka. They are all part of the disgusting double standards of Islam.
The most worrying aspect of such double standards and support for terrorism is its infiltration of non-Muslims countries. In alphabetical order, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States.
Does the world need a hint as to what is happening or are politicians going to stop pandering to religious extremism and get rid of Islam in self-respecting communities. Who is going to have the courage to pass laws requiring religions to align with community values? If religions become a cancer within tolerant communities, they should be shut down. Close the places of worship and ban the religious texts that demand the end of our way of life.