The New York Times published a misleading report on the infamous Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoon controversy today. The Times defended Yale’s decision to ban the cartoons in a new book:
It’s not all that surprising that Yale University Press would be wary of reprinting notoriously controversial cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad in a forthcoming book. After all, when the 12 caricatures were first published by a Danish newspaper a few years ago and reprinted by other European publications, Muslims all over the world angrily protested, calling the images — which included one in which Muhammad wore a turban in the shape of a bomb — blasphemous. In the Middle East and Africa some rioted, burning and vandalizing embassies; others demanded a boycott of Danish goods; a few nations recalled their ambassadors from Denmark. In the end at least 200 people were killed.
For some reason The New York Times continues to misrepresent this controversy.
Here’s what really happened:
Imam Ahmad Abu Laban, the leader of the Islamic Society of Denmark toured the Middle-East to “create awareness” about 12 cartoons that were published in Danish newspaper, Jyllands-Posten, on September 30, 2005.
However, Imam Ahmad Abu Laban, also brought at least 3 additional images, which HAD NEVER been published in any media source. 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 (posted below)
When asked about these additional cartoons, Imam Ahmad Abu Laban said they were from threatening letters and promised to give copies of those letters to FOX News, among other news services. However, he never did.Back in February 2006 blogger Dennis Nixon identified one of the “cartoons”.
It was NOT a picture of Muhammad…
This is Jacques Barrot, a pig squealing contestant at the French Pig-Squealing Championships in Trie-sur-Baise’s annual festival.Another Danish Muslim Leader, Ahmad Akkari, the spokesman for the Islamic Society of Denmark, had this to say (Via The Brussels Journal):
Akhmad Akkari, spokesman of the 21 Danish Muslim organizations which organized the tour (to the Middle East), explained that the three drawings had been added to “give an insight in how hateful the atmosphere in Denmark is towards Muslims.” Akkari claimed he does not know the origin of the three pictures. He said they had been sent anonymously to Danish Muslims. However, when Ekstra Bladet asked if it could talk to these Muslims, Akkari refused to reveal their identity.
It was all a scam carried out by a radical Danish Imam to stir up hatred of the West.
Over 100 people died from this scam including nuns and priests.
Sadly, The New York Times still refuses to report the real story behind the Danish cartoon controversy.
