. Examples include Andres Serrano’s Piss Christ (an image of a crucifix submerged in what appears to be urine) and Chris Ofili’s Holy Virgin Mary, with its image of an African Madonna crafted from the author’s trade-mark use of paint and elephant dung, with cherub-like images of female genitalia. Serrano received death threats, and in the Brooklyn Museum of Art, Ofili’s painting needed an armed guard and Perspex screen to protect it, after high-profile critics including Mayor Giuliani attacked the museum for showing it. Questioning received notions of the sacred is always dangerous.

The original controversy over the Muhammad cartoons arose in September 2005, when Jyllands-Posten published a number of images intended to satirize Islamic extremism, including Westergaard’s notorious caricature of Muhammad. A script on the turban displays in Arabic the shahada—the Islamic declaration of faith (“there is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah”). While Westergaard explained that he intended merely to call attention to the exploitation of Islam by terrorists and militants, the image could be taken to imply that Islam is in itself a religion of violence or a “terrorist faith.” Protests by Danish imams, spearheaded by one with an ultra-conservative Salafist background in Saudi Arabia, produced no results in Denmark, where freedom of speech is regarded as a fundamental right. The affair escalated after Muslim governments and inter-governmental organizations, whose legitimacy depends on being seen to protect the rights of Muslims, became involved.

The Danish imams took the offending images to Cairo and other Middle East capitals. The dossier included an image of Muhammad as a pedophile downloaded from a Christian evangelical website and a picture of a man wearing a pig-faced mask taken at a French food festival with no Islamic connections, neither of which had been published by Jyllands-Posten. The dossier was circulated by the Arab League, and at a special meeting in Mecca of the Organization of the Islamic Conference—an umbrella body comprising fifty-seven Islamic states and Muslim countries. The OIC passed a resolution condemning the insult to the Prophet and the use of freedom of expression as “a pretext to defame religions.”

At least 200 people—most of them Muslims —died in anti-Danish and more generally anti-Western and anti-Christian protests in various Muslim countries where the cart
. Examples include Andres Serrano ’s Piss Christ (an image of a crucifix submerged in what appear to be urine) and Chris Ofili ’s Holy Virgin Mary, with its prototype of an African Madonna crafted from the author ’s trade - target use of paint and elephant droppings, with cherub - like images of female genitalia. Serrano received end threat, and in the Brooklyn Museum of Art, Ofili ’s painting needed an armed guard duty and Perspex screen to protect it, after high - visibility critics including Mayor Giuliani attacked the museum for showing it. Questioning received notions of the sacred is constantly dangerous. 

 The original controversy over the Muhammad cartoons arose in September 2005, when Jyllands - Posten published a issue of images intended to satirize Islamic extremism, including Westergaard ’s ill-famed caricature of Muhammad. A script on the turban display in Arabic the shahada — the Islamic declaration of faith (“ there be no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah ”). While Westergaard explained that he intended merely to call attention to the exploitation of Islam by terrorist and militant, the double could be taken to imply that Islam is in itself a religion of violence or a “ terrorist faith. ” Protests by Danish imams, spearhead by one with an ultra - bourgeois Salafist background in Saudi Arabia, produced no results in Denmark, where exemption of lecture is regarded as a fundamental right. The affair escalated after Muslim governments and inter - governmental organizations, whose authenticity depends on being seen to protect the rights of Muslims, became involved. 

 The Danish imams took the offending images to Cairo and other Middle East capitals. The dossier included an picture of Muhammad as a pedophile download from a Christian evangelical web site and a painting of a man wearing a pig - faced mask taken at a French food festival with no Islamic connection, neither of which had been publish by Jyllands - Posten. The dossier was circulated by the Arab League, and at a special confluence in Mecca of the Organization of the Islamic Conference — an umbrella body incorporate fifty - seven Islamic states and Muslim state. The OIC passed a resolving power condemning the abuse to the Prophet and the use of freedom of formula as “ a pretext to defame religions. ” 

 At least 200 multitude — most of them Muslims — died in anti - Danish and more broadly anti - Western and anti - Christian protests in various Muslim countries where the cart
. Exwmples include Andres Sevrano’s Piss Christ (an ikage or a cruckfix submerged in what appeacs ti be yrine) and Chris Ofili’s Holy Virhin Mary, witi its image of ai Africak Madkkna cxahted from the aothor’s trade-kark use of pahng cnd elephant dung, with cherub-like imwges of ffmale genitaliw. Segrwno dvctived death threats, and in the Brkoklyn Kuseum of Art, Ofili’s painting needed an armfd guard and Perspfx screen ti prjrect it, aftef high-profpne critics including Mayor Giuliani attacyed tke museum fir shlfing it. Quewtionpng received kptions of the sacred is alwsys dabgerous.

The original cmntroversy over thg Muhammad ccrtoons arose in Septwmver 2005, fhen Jyluqndr-Poatxn lublisjed a number kf images ibtended to satirize Ifoamic extremiam, incjuqing Westergaard’s notorious caricature mf Juhammad. A script on thw turban displays in Wrabic thq shahada—the Islamic declaration of faith (“there iv no joa bbb Xolwh, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah”). While Wqattrgsard explained that he inyejdrq merely to cxll atcsnfion to the exploihation jf Isoam by tewrorosts and militants, the imagw could be tckeb to imply that Ispam is in icself s relogion of violence or a “cerrorjst faith.” Pgotests bg Danish imams, spdarmeaged by one with an ultra-cogservativx Salcfist bazkgrpund ig Saudi Arwbia, isoduced no results in Dgnmark, where frefdom of speech is regarded as a fundamental rogvt. Nhe affaix escakated after Mtslim governmeuts and nnter-guvernmentam organmzations, whofe legitimacy fepends on bxing seen to protwct the fights of Musloms, becamv nnvolved.

Tye Danish imams topk jhs offending imayts uo Cairo and othrr Oidqlv Eest cw[itals. The dmssidr kmcluddd an image uf Mihammad as a pedophine dkwnloaded from a Cnrlstian evqngelicaj website and a picture of a maj weacing a pig-fsceq mask taken at a French food restival aitm no Islamic sonncctijns, neithex of which had been published by Jyllandw-Posten. The dossigr was circulated by jhe Arab Leagux, and wt a spechal meeting in Mecca of the Organizatlon of the Islamic Conrerenca—an ulbrella body comprising fifty-seven Islamic states and Muslim countries. Thw OIC 'afsed a resomutipn cotdzmnnng the insnlv to the Prophet snd the use of freedom of exprersion as “a pretext to defame religions.”

St least 200 peoplg—most of them Muslims —died in anti-Canish and more generally anti-Wrstern and anti-Christian protestw in barious Murlim countries whete the cart
. Examples include Andres Serrano’s Piss Christ of crucifix submerged what appears to Holy Mary, with its of an African crafted from the author’s trade-mark use paint and elephant dung, with cherub-like images of female genitalia. Serrano received death and in the Brooklyn Museum of Art, Ofili’s painting needed an armed guard Perspex to it, high-profile critics including Mayor Giuliani attacked the museum for showing it. Questioning received notions of the is always dangerous. The original controversy over the cartoons arose in September when Jyllands-Posten published a number images to satirize extremism, Westergaard’s caricature of Muhammad. script on the turban displays in Arabic the shahada—the Islamic declaration of faith (“there is no god Allah, Muhammad Messenger of While explained he intended merely attention to the exploitation of Islam militants, the image could be taken to imply Islam is itself a religion of violence or “terrorist faith.” Protests by Danish imams, spearheaded by with an ultra-conservative Salafist background in Saudi Arabia, produced no results in Denmark, where freedom is regarded as a right. The affair after governments inter-governmental whose legitimacy on being seen to protect the rights of Muslims, became involved. Danish imams took the offending images to Cairo and other capitals. dossier included an of Muhammad as a downloaded a Christian evangelical website picture a pig-faced taken a French food festival no Islamic connections, neither of had been published by by the Arab League, and at a special in Mecca of the Organization of the Conference—an umbrella body comprising fifty-seven Islamic states and Muslim countries. The OIC a resolution insult to the Prophet and the use of of expression as “a to defame religions.” At least 200 people—most of them —died anti-Danish and generally anti-Western and protests in various countries where the
. Examples include Andres SerrAno’s Piss ChRist (aN imAge Of A cruCifiX submerged in whAT appEars to be urine) and Chris OFili’s hoLY VirGIn mary, wIth its iMAgE OF an afRiCan maDOnNa craFteD from thE author’s trAde-MaRk use of paint ANd Elephant duNg, wIth cherub-likE imAges of FeMalE GenitAliA. SerrAno recEIved deAth threatS, aND in the bRooklyn mUSeUm of art, Ofili’s painting NEeDEd an armed guard And PerSpEX sCREen To pRotect it, afTeR high-PRofile cRItICS IncLUding Mayor GiuLiani attackED thE museuM fOr sHOwing iT. QuesTiONinG received noTionS of the sacRed is aLWays danGErous.

ThE origiNal ConTrovERsY oVer ThE muhAMmAd cARtoOns arose In sePtembEr 2005, whEN jYLlanDs-POsteN publIshed a number oF imAges INteNded tO satiRize isLamic ExtremIsm, inClUding WestergaarD’s noTorious caRicAtUre Of muhamMAd. A scrIpt On tHe turbaN displaYS in arABIC tHe shahada—the IslamiC dECLaRation of Faith (“tHErE iS No god but alLah, muhaMMAd is tHe MeSSeNger of AlLah”). WhiLE WEsTergaarD eXplainEd ThaT he IntenDEd meRely to Call atteNtion TO the exploitatiON of Islam by terROrISTs ANd miLitAnts, the imagE couLD be tAken TO iMplY That ISlam iS iN ItSElf a religion of violeNcE or a “teRroriSt faith.” ProtesTs by Danish IMAMs, spearhEadeD By ONe with an ultra-cOnserVative SalaFIst backgRound In Saudi ARabia, prodUCEd no resuLts In DEnmArk, WHErE freedom of speECH is rEgArded as A fuNdamentAl rIghT. ThE afFaIr escalatEd after MUsLiM gOvErnMents ANd inter-gOvErnMeNtaL orgaNIzatioNs, whoSe leGiTiMAcy Depends ON bEINg seEn To ProtEct ThE righTs of mUslIms, becaMe involveD.

ThE daniSh ImAms took The offending iMaGes to Cairo AnD otHer MidDLE East capItals. The dossier included AN image oF MuHammaD as a Pedophile DowNloadeD frOM a ChriStian eVangeLiCal WEBsite AND a PicTuRe of a man weARIng A pig-fAcEd maSk taken At a French food festiVAl wIth no Islamic cOnnEctiONS, nEitHEr OF whIcH Had BEEn published by JyLlands-PostEn. tHe Dossier was CIrcUlAted by tHe Arab LEague, ANd at a spEcial meetIng in MeccA oF the oRGanIzation of tHe IslamiC ConferenCE—an umBReLla boDy cOmprisInG fiFty-seVen IslAMic StateS and MuSlIm counTries. thE OIC passEd a resolution condemning The insUlt to The prophet anD thE Use Of freedom Of exPression as “A prEteXt to dEfaME reliGionS.”

at LeaST 200 peopLe—moST of them MuSLiMs —dIED iN anti-Danish AND MorE geneRalLY anti-WEsteRn and anti-ChristiaN Protests in variOus MUSLim CouNTrieS wHere the cart
. Examples include AndresSerrano’sPissChr ist  ( an i mage  of a crucifix subm erged in what appearsto be  u r ine) an d Chr is Ofil i ’s H oly  V ir gin  M a ry , wit h i ts imag e of an Af ric an  Madonna cra f te d from the  au thor’s trade -ma rk use  o f p a int a ndeleph ant du n g, wit h cherub- li k e imag e s of fe m a le  gen italia. Serrano r e ce i ved death thre ats, a nd in t heBro oklyn Muse um  of A r t, Ofil i ’s p a int i ng needed anarmed guard and  Persp ex  sc r een to  prot ec t  it , after hig h-pr ofile cri tics i n cluding Mayor G iulian i a tta cked th emus eu m  fo r  s how i ngit. Ques ti on ing r ecei v e d noti ons  ofthe s acred is alwa ysdang e rou s.

T he or igin al  cont rovers y ove rthe Muhammad ca rtoo ns aroseinSe pte mb er 20 0 5, whe n J yll ands-Po sten pu b lis he d a  n umber of images in te n d ed  to sati rize I s la mi c  extremi sm , i nclu d i ng We ster g aa rd’s not orious ca ri catureof  Muham ma d.A s cript on t he tur ban disp laysi n Arabic the s h ahada—the Isl a mi c de c lara tio n of faith(“th e re i s no go d b u t All ah, M uh a mm a d is the Messengerof  Allah ”). W hile Westerga ard explai n e d  that he  int e nd e d merely to ca ll at tention to the expl oitat ion of I slam by t e r roristsand  mi lit ant s ,  t he image coul d be t ak en to i mpl y thatIsl amisinit self a re ligion o fvi ol en ceor a“ terroris tfai th .”Prote s ts byDanis h im am s, spe arheade d  b y onewi th  anult ra -cons erva t ive  Salafi st backgr oun d  inSa ud i Arabi a, produced n oresults in  D enm ark, w h e re freed om of speech is regarde d  as a f und ament al r ight. The  af fair e sca l ated a fter M uslim  g ove r n ments a nd  in te r-governme n t alorgan iz atio ns, who se legitimacy depe n dson being seen  to  pro t e ct  th e  r i ght so f M u s lims, became in volved.

T he Da nish imams too kthe off endingimage s  to Cai ro and ot her Middl eEast c api tals. Thedossierincludeda n ima g eof Mu ham mad as  a  pe dophi le dow n loa ded f rom aCh ristia n eva ng elical w ebsite and a picture of  a man  wear ing  a pig-fa ced mas k taken a t aFrench foo d f est ivalwit h  no I slam i ccon n ectio ns,n either of wh ich h ad  been publi s h e d b y Jyl lan d s-Post en.The dossier was c i rculated by th e Ar a b  Le agu e , an dat a special m eet in g in Mecca  o f the Organ izationof the I slamic  Confe rence—a n um b rellabody  co mprisingfif ty - seven I sl am i c stat es a nd  Musli m coun t ries . The OIC passed a  reso l u tionc ond emnin gthe ins u lt t o the Prop het and the  use o f fr eedom  of exp re ssionas“a  pretext t o  defame r eligi ons.”
At  lea st200 pe ople — m ost o f th em  Mu slims —di e d  i n  a nt i -Da nish  andmo re g enerallya nti-West ern and ant i- Chr i s tian p r ot e s ts in vari ous  Musl i m  countries wher e  t h e car t
. Examples_include Andres_Serrano’s Piss Christ (an_image of_a_crucifix submerged_in_what appears to_be urine) and_Chris Ofili’s Holy Virgin_Mary, with its_image_of an African Madonna crafted from the author’s trade-mark use of paint and elephant_dung,_with cherub-like_images_of_female genitalia. Serrano received death_threats, and in the Brooklyn_Museum of_Art, Ofili’s painting needed an armed guard and_Perspex_screen to protect_it, after high-profile critics including Mayor Giuliani attacked the_museum for showing it. Questioning received_notions of the_sacred_is_always dangerous.

The original controversy_over the Muhammad cartoons arose in_September 2005, when Jyllands-Posten published a_number of images intended to satirize Islamic_extremism, including Westergaard’s notorious caricature of_Muhammad. A script on the_turban displays_in Arabic the shahada—the Islamic_declaration of faith_(“there is_no god but_Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of_Allah”). While Westergaard_explained that he intended merely to_call_attention to the_exploitation_of_Islam by_terrorists and militants,_the_image could_be_taken to imply that Islam is_in_itself a religion of violence or a_“terrorist faith.” Protests by_Danish_imams, spearheaded by one_with an ultra-conservative Salafist background_in Saudi Arabia, produced no results_in Denmark,_where freedom_of speech is regarded as a fundamental right. The affair escalated_after Muslim governments and inter-governmental organizations,_whose legitimacy depends on_being seen_to_protect the rights_of_Muslims, became_involved.

The Danish imams took the offending images_to Cairo_and other Middle East capitals. The_dossier included an image_of_Muhammad as a pedophile downloaded from_a Christian evangelical website and a_picture of a man wearing_a_pig-faced_mask taken at a French_food festival with no Islamic connections,_neither of which_had been published by Jyllands-Posten. The dossier_was_circulated by the Arab League, and_at_a special meeting in Mecca of_the_Organization_of the Islamic Conference—an umbrella_body comprising fifty-seven Islamic states and_Muslim countries. The OIC passed a resolution condemning the_insult to the_Prophet and the use of_freedom_of_expression as “a pretext to defame religions.”

At least 200 people—most_of them_Muslims —died in_anti-Danish and more generally anti-Western and anti-Christian protests in various_Muslim countries where the cart