September 19, 2012 12:53 pm
Cartoons of Mohammed, Anti-Jihad Subway Ads and Other Provocations, Past and Future
Clerics take part in a protest against innocence of Muslims, an anti-Islamic film Image: Mohamed CJ
Today, as protests continue across the Muslim world in reaction to a translated movie trailer posted on YouTube, French magazine Charlie Hebdo announced that it was publishing cartoons depicting the prophet Muhammad.
As a precautionary measure, the French government deployed riot police to the magazine’s headquarters in Paris and plans to close French embassies in 20 countries this Friday to try and contain any riots that might ensue from the publication of the cartoons.
The BBC reports that 30 people have died in the protests connected to the film “Innocence of Muslims.” The Atlantic Wire reports that groups in Germany, the United States and Canada have expressed interest in hosting screenings of the film.
Here in the United States, controversy is brewing as well. New York City’s Metropolitan Transit Authority recently lost a court battle to prevent the placement of an inflammatory ad in the subway system. The ad, sponsored by the group the American Freedom Defense Initiative, reads: “In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man. Support Israel. Defeat Jihad”
The New York Times interviewed Muneer Awad, executive director of the New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, who had one of the most level-headed reactions to the subway controversy:
Mr. Awad added that the group had not called for the ads’ removal, though it has asked the transportation authority to redirect funds it receives for the ads to the city’s Human Rights Commission.
“It’s perfectly legal to be a bigot and to be a racist,” he said. “We want to make sure there’s a counter-voice.”
Shocking (and perfectly legal) statements in the form of art, ads and political cartoons are nothing new. Here are just a few of the more recent/memorable ones and the counter-voices they inspired.
- 2012: “The Master,” a film loosely based on the early days of Scientology premieres, inciting calls and e-mails of protest from Scientologists.
- 2012: Punk Band Pussy Riot is convicted for preforming a “Punk Prayer” in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. They were arrested, and sentenced to do time. Counter-protests in support of the band have occurred all over the world.
- 2006: Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten publishes cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad. The ensuing protests involved embassies in flames and tens of thousands of protesters.
- 2004: Mel Gibson’s Passion of the Christ premieres, greeted by worldwide protests accusing the film of anti-Semitism.
- 2004: Filmmaker Theo Van Gogh is murdered for making a fictional film about a Muslim woman’s arranged marriage.
- 1988: Author Salman Rushdie publishes The Satanic Verses, and goes into hiding after Iranian clerics issue a fatwa demanding his death.
- 1988: Last Temptation of Christ, a Martin Scoresese picture appears in theatres. Hundreds of protesters appear.
- 1915: The Birth of a Nation, a white supremacist film, opens to protests by the African-American community in Boston.
More From Smithsonian.com:
What We Do (And Don’t) Know About the Movie Muslim Innocence
How an Obscure Video Sparked International Protests
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MUSLIMS SHOULD NOT FOLLOW THE SUICIDAL PATH. It looks like that the Western world is determined to paint Muslims and Islam as the out-class race and religion by carrying out uncivilized, immoral and vulgar JIHAD against them using pretext of freedom of speech and expression. It is a calculated war designed by the Zionists, Christian militia and zealots; all combined together. They have skillfully converted majority of Muslims as un-lawful and criminal and their human rights, morality and equal rights have been curtailed using their phony slogan of war on terror around the globe.
Under this circumstances, wise Muslim leaders should come out and educate their Imams to use the democratic means of expressing their opposition and use their ballots during the election decisively to weeded out the Islam o-phobias. Also, they should use the democratic tools of publishing their own view points in other medias and providing financial support to the right candidates with right ideology. Also, 53 Islamic Nations should convey the U.N. General Assembly and use their power to pass Resolution to stop this Jihad of freedom of speech at least for the known respected Prophets and respected religious personalities of major Religions similar to Jews have been awarded the tool of Antisemitism. Muslim nations can also take many other legal, political and economical action to stop this un-holy Western Jihad. But to start violence or destruction of property in the name of such provocation will be SUICIDAL for Muslims and Islam in long run and must be stopped at once.
Comment by john2397 — September 19, 2012 @ 1:36 pm
There were a lot of controversies regarding art and commentary between 2004 and 1988. Most notably, for conservatives, the “piss christ” of 1989. I’m sure there were more, but as a non-extremist, I can’t seem to remember . . .
Comment by smithson — September 19, 2012 @ 9:43 pm
I am deeply offended at the characterization of Muneer Awad’s libelous insult, i.e. “bigot and racist” directed at Pamela Geller as “level-headed”. It is not level anything. It is a calculated formulaic response to deflect criticism of the indefensible savagery we see daily from marauding Jihadis. Somehow I was hoping for a little more healthy skepticism or at least honesty from so prestigious a periodical as “Smithsonian”.
Comment by Michael Fine — September 20, 2012 @ 12:16 am
There is nothing racist or bigoted or anti muslim or anti islam about “In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man. Support Israel. Defeat Jihad”
It is anti-Jihad and anti-savage. Shouldn’t we always be against those and be pro-civilization?
Comment by Don — September 20, 2012 @ 4:12 am