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| Britain |
| Next cartoonifada brewing in Cambridge? |
| 2007-02-11 |
| Muslims in Cambridge have demanded a public apology from a student who printed anti-Islamic material in a magazine. The material included a cartoon depicting the prophet Mohammed which sparked worldwide outrage last year when it was published in Denmark. It is thought this is the first time the cartoon has appeared in a publication in England. Asim Mumtaz, president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association, said: "I'm horrified and shocked. In such a seat of learning, I am horrified that things could stoop to this level. I'm actually shocked that intelligent people know how offensive this cartoon is and that they have decided to reprint it in such a horrible manner. It's disgusting." The cartoon was reprinted in Clare College's student magazine in a special edition on religious satire. The 19-year-old student who printed the cartoon has since gone into hiding and the college has called a rare Court of Discipline to decide how the student should be brought to account. Mr Mumtaz, a former Cambridge University student himself, is now demanding that everyone involved with the publication of the cartoon should make a public apology. He said: "I hope the magazine and the JCR apologise for what they have done. We thought we had gone past this and that people realised there is a difference between freedom of speech and outright insult. I am very shocked, I would not imagine this in Cambridge, maybe some other university, city or country. We have such intelligent people and they understand the consequences of their actions." Mr Mumtaz added that although the student involved had behaved immaturely, he believed there was also some intent to be offensive. The cartoon was printed alongside a picture of the president of the Union of Clare Students, with the captions switched. There was also comment suggesting one was a "violent paedophile" and the other was "a prophet of God, great leader and an example to us all". Abdul Arain, co-ordinator of the Cambridge Muslims website and a leading member of the Abu Bakar Saddiq Mosque in Mawson Road, also reacted with shock. He said he believed the 19-year-old had deliberately tried to stir up racial hatred. He said: "I feel a mix of emotions, but I am absolutely abhorred this has happened on our backdoor." Like Mr Mumtaz, he said he believed Muslims in Cambridge would be deeply offended by the publication, but would remain peaceful. Mr Arain said: "These kind of inflammatory remarks brings about the worst kind of character. We need to rise above it. It's one man trying to set up tensions. The Prophet Mohammed in the Muslim world is the most revered figure." He emphasised Islam was not a violent religion, but like Mr Mumtaz, said he believed muslims in Cambridge would be outraged by the publication. Mr Arain also praised the quick action of Clare College in condemning the publication, and added he believed justice would be done through the college's disciplinary system. He said: "What this person has printed is highly offensive and it has caused abhorrence and distress to many people. This person must realise what he has done and take responsibility for it and come out and make recompense for it." |
| Posted by:ryuge |
| #14 Yup, those Europeans with the get-up-and-go got up and went a long time ago. |
| Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 2007-02-11 15:57 |
| #13 I guess the only Englishmen who are worth a tinker's damn came here 200 years ago. |
| Posted by: Perfesser 2007-02-11 14:40 |
| #12 How come: British Muslims live in a police state, but British infidels are the ones being trained to keep their mouths shut? |
| Posted by: gromgoru 2007-02-11 14:06 |
| #11 Instead of defending against these types folks like Asim Mumtaz should be made truly afraid. |
| Posted by: 3dc 2007-02-11 13:26 |
| #10 Wasn't it Stalin who said, "Create as much trouble as you can, a divided people are easy to conquer?" |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2007-02-11 10:06 |
| #9 "Why is a certain "religion" seething about a non-issue, as usual?" Because they can... it really must be awful, to be so skinless in a sand-paper world! |
| Posted by: Sgt. Mom 2007-02-11 09:59 |
| #8 Mr Arain also praised the quick action of Clare College in condemning the publication Any "Court of Discipline" should follow a due process. "Clareification" is a weekly student spoof mag, including "Clareifornication", and the cartoons & comments are likely to be consistent with its normal format & content. Why is a certain "religion" seething about a non-issue, as usual? |
| Posted by: A Murder Of Muslims 2007-02-11 09:53 |
| #7 The 19-year-old student who printed the cartoon has since gone into hiding Why? Islam means "peace", right? |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2007-02-11 09:33 |
| #6 The cartoon was reprinted in Clare College's student magazine in a special edition on religious satire. The 19-year-old student who printed the cartoon has since gone into hiding and the college has called a rare Court of Discipline to decide how the student should be brought to account. WRONG ACTION The student should be protected by Campus police 24-7 and any complaibers investigated THOROUGHLY. |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2007-02-11 09:20 |
| #5 The high street in Cambridge has a McDonald's with a wonderful design theme; a Regency folly. Though I expect it does not serve a bacon double cheeseburger for fear of offending the deen of the Masters. |
| Posted by: Excalibur 2007-02-11 08:53 |
| #4 The only thing I have eveer found to like in Chamridgeshire were the old war birds and the splendid museum at RAF Duxford. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2007-02-11 08:47 |
| #3 So... shall we set up a pool on when the Clare College administration will roll over, apologise extravagantly and promise to severely discipline any student who breaths any criticism against Islam? Put me in the pool for...oh, Wednesday PM. After all, it is sooooooo much more important to be sensitive, than to actually maintain a pretense of intellectual inquiry. Look at how speedily our news orgs rplled over on this issue. |
| Posted by: Sgt. Mom 2007-02-11 08:41 |
| #2 LOL. The Cambridge News is kinda like The Onion. Isn't it? Isn't it? ISN'T IT? |
| Posted by: Shipman 2007-02-11 08:37 |
| #1 the college has called a rare Court of Discipline to decide how the student should be brought to account for calling Mohammed a violent pedophile, which is the truth. What's that old saying about hell and handbaskets? |
| Posted by: Parabellum 2007-02-11 08:29 |