200 Deaths Later – Radical Muslim Leader Now Says Mohammad Cartoons Were ‘OK’
Imam Ahmad Abu Laban, the leader of the Islamic Society of Denmark, and Muslim leader Ahmad Akkari toured the Middle-East in 2006 to “build awareness” of the 12 Mohammad cartoons that were published in Danish newspaper, Jyllands-Posten, on September 30, 2005. The cartoons were offensive to Muslims.
However, the two imams brought with them at least 3 additional phony images, which were never published in the newspaper. They included a cartoon of Muhammad as a pedophile demon, Muhammed with a pig snout, and a praying Muslim being raped by a dog. The drawings in Jyllands-Posten were harmless compared to these three.
When asked about these additional cartoons, Imam Ahmad Abu Laban said they were from threatening letters and promised to release copies of those letters to FOX News.
He never did.
Dennis Nixon and The Gateway Pundit later broke the story that the “Mohammad pig caller” cartoon was a fraud.
The photo was of Jacques Barrot, a pig squealing contestant at the French Pig-Squealing Championships in Trie-sur-Baise’s annual festival.
The cartoon controversy inflamed violent protests resulting in “at least 200 deaths” globally according to The New York Times.
Now this…
Ahmad Akkari now says Jyllands-Posten had the right to print the cartoons.
Al Ahram reported:
A Danish Muslim leader who seven years ago traveled the Muslim world fueling the uproar over newspaper caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad is back in the headlines in Denmark after doing an about-face on the issue.
Once a leading critic of the Danish cartoons, which sparked fiery protests in Muslim countries, Lebanese-born Ahmad Akkari now says the Jyllands-Posten newspaper had the right to print them.
His unexpected change of heart has received praise from pundits and politicians in recent weeks, though some question his sincerity. It has also disappointed some in the country’s Muslim minority who were deeply offended by the cartoons.
Akkari, now 35, was the spokesman for a group of imams who led the protests against the drawings in Denmark. They traveled to Lebanon, Egypt and Syria to elicit support, saying the Danish government wouldn’t listen to their concerns.
Their journeys helped turn the dispute into an international crisis. Dozens were killed in weeks of protests that included violent attacks against Danish missions in Syria, Iran, Afghanistan and Lebanon. Tiny Denmark found itself on a collision course with the Muslim world — something Akkari now regrets.
“I want to be clear today about the trip: It was totally wrong,” Akkari told The Associated Press this week. “At that time, I was so fascinated with this logical force in the Islamic mindset that I could not see the greater picture. I was convinced it was a fight for my faith, Islam.”
He said he’s still a practicing Muslim but started doubting his fundamentalist beliefs after a 2007 trip to Lebanon, where he met Islamist leaders.
“I was shocked. I realized what an oppressive mentality they have,” Akkari said.
Sorry Ahmad… That still won’t wash the blood off your hands.
