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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Cartoon row: Danish embassy ablaze
2006-02-04
Hundreds of Syrian demonstrators stormed the Danish Embassy in Damascus Saturday and set fire to the building, witnesses said.

The demonstrators were protesting offensive caricatures of Islam's Prophet Mohammed that were first published in a Danish newspaper several months ago.

Witnesses said the demonstrators set fire to the entire building, which also houses the embassies of Chile and Sweden.

Protesters have been staging sit-ins outside the Danish Embassy in downtown Damascus almost daily since the furor over the drawings broke out last week.

Saturday's protest started out peacefully but as anger escalated, protesters broke through police barriers and torched the building, the witnesses said.

The cartoons, first printed in Denmark and then published elsewhere in Europe, have touched a raw nerve in the Arab and Islamic world, in part because Islamic law is interpreted to forbid any depiction of the Prophet Mohammed, favorable or otherwise.

Aggravating the affront was one caricature of Mohammed wearing a turban shaped as a bomb with a burning fuse.

The Danish government has expressed regret for the furor, but refused to become involved, citing freedom of expression.

Rage against caricatures of Islam's revered prophet poured out across the Muslim world on Saturday, with aggrieved believers calling for the execution of those involved, storming European buildings, and setting European flags afire.
Posted by:tipper

#24  I believe most societies would consider the burning of an Embassy an act of war! Including the Muslims.
Posted by: TomAnon   2006-02-04 21:19  

#23  Need to add that one to the Rantburg picture library, Number 6.
Posted by: Number 2   2006-02-04 17:46  

#22  ...new cartoons
http://retecool.com/comments.php?id=13539_0_1_0_C
Posted by: Rantfan   2006-02-04 17:01  

#21  Wasn't Muhammed a pedophile? Why not some cartoons depicting that? How about a cartoon where muslims enter a door expecting thier 76 year old virgin and come out the other side sterialized.
Posted by: FeralCat   2006-02-04 16:24  

#20  I called the Danish Embassy in Washington and told them how much I admired them standing strong in the defense of freedom of speech. They seemed appreciative.
Posted by: mac   2006-02-04 16:07  

#19  And some wonder why we can't let these people go all nuclear on us?
Posted by: Capsu78   2006-02-04 16:02  

#18  Remember those peaceful Muzzies ? Remember that the actions of a few radicals should not reflect upon the entire Muzzie population.
Then, one cartoonist writes one cartoon, and those peace loving Muzzies set Europe on fire in retaliation. Let these jerk*ffs make the rules, I'm ready to burn all the mosques and behead all the Muzzies. The word stupid doesn't quite explain them, does it ?
How about salivating fucktard cluster ?
Posted by: wxjames   2006-02-04 15:41  

#17  Vi er sammen med Danskere!!! (We stand with Denmark!)
Posted by: Rafael   2006-02-04 14:47  

#16  Islam has to be a mental disease. What a bunch of crazies.
Posted by: anymouse   2006-02-04 14:46  

#15  Here's one from yesterday:
Posted by: 6   2006-02-04 12:47  

#14  And sign the petition in support of freedom of speech:

http://www.petitiononline.com/danmark/petition.html
Posted by: Jules   2006-02-04 12:44  

#13  Publish the cartoons on every website around. Print them and put them on telephone poles and walls. And push back.
Posted by: anon   2006-02-04 12:32  

#12  "In Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono denounced the cartoons as insensitive. But "as religious people, we should accept the apology extended by the Danish government," he added."

Right on. See, now that's a normal response.

"Angry demonstrators took to the streets in Denmark and Britain on Saturday, signaling a ratcheting up of tensions among European Muslims."

Not very "European" are they?

"At the demonstration later Saturday outside Copenhagen, right-wing extremists plan to protest the recent burning of Danish flags -- a gathering that could inflame tensions with the Muslims."

Yeah, maybe better not get the vikings pissed off. The genetics are all still there, simmering on the back burner.

"Although many of Denmark's 200,000 Muslims were deeply offended by the cartoons, mass demonstrations have not broken out."

The Danish Muslim majority who "gets it" about the Danes. Significant, since Denmark is the country of origin in this "great offense" against Moslems.

"We should have killed all those who offend the Prophet and instead here we are, protesting peacefully," Mahmoud Zahar, a top leader of the militant Islamic group that won the January 25 Palestinian elections, told Italian daily Il Giornale. "We should have killed them, we should have required just punishment for those who respect neither religion nor its holiest symbols," Zahar was quoted as saying."

Right . . . except if we're talking about OTHER religions. As expressed in this next clip.

"At least 500 Israeli Arabs gathered peacefully in Nazareth for the first protest against the caricatures on Israeli soil. A procession set off from the As-Salam mosque toward the Basilica of the Annunciation, where Christian tradition says Mary was informed of Jesus' impending birth. Sheik Raed Salah, a radical leader of the Islamic Movement, was to address the crowd later.

"Allah is the only God, and Mohammed is his prophet," loudspeakers blared as the march began."

Not much room there for a difference of opinion.


"CNN has chosen to not show the cartoons out of respect for Islam." (see bottom of page at link)

And the American Press bends over . . . way over. Never thought you'd see it here? Only the beginning.
Posted by: ex-lib   2006-02-04 12:14  

#11  Not Peace rather Piece as in smashed to pieces.
So the root structure of the religion is a mob.
Perhaps the name should be changed from Islam to: Anarchy R Us.
Posted by: 3dc   2006-02-04 11:54  

#10  Man, that link to Malkin was great. Very well done. Got chills watching and listening to it.

Where are the "courageous" British and American politicians on this cartoon "scandal"? Have they lost their voice or have they lost our will? They use to be in the forefront in this struggle...now they seem to be hiding quietly in the back of the room, hoping no one will call their names...
Posted by: Jules   2006-02-04 11:43  

#9  but...but...Islam is the "Religion of Peace". right??

Posted by: Justrand   2006-02-04 11:24  

#8  Reminds me of the anger of 5th grade girls.
Posted by: 6   2006-02-04 11:16  

#7  Aggravating the affront was one caricature of Mohammed wearing a turban shaped as a bomb with a burning fuse

And the resulting "demonstrations" seem to be changing this charicature to accurate representation quite quickly.

The cartoon comes to life. Proving it's expressive opinion to be true - suddenly less a cartoon than illustration.
Posted by: Hupomoger Clans9827   2006-02-04 11:13  

#6   This is not going to turn out well.

I don't know, it seems to be going OK so far.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2006-02-04 11:11  

#5  Simple answer: if there are any Syrians in Denmark, or people of Syrian origin, expel them back to Syria. Immediately. Turn about is fair play.
Posted by: mac   2006-02-04 11:10  

#4  Michelle Malkin says it pretty well.

http://media.michellemalkin.com/firsttheycame0545.wmv
Posted by: RD   2006-02-04 11:08  

#3  ... with aggrieved believers calling for the execution of those involved, storming European buildings, and setting European flags afire.

Death to the Great Satan! Hey, wait a minute ....
Posted by: AzCat   2006-02-04 11:04  

#2  Man, the ragheads are getting rammy, aren't they? This is not going to turn out well.
Posted by: Dave D.   2006-02-04 10:55  

#1  Let's pray the Danes don't back down on this one. Europe is better off fighting this war now rather than later.
Posted by: 2b   2006-02-04 10:51  

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