Wikipedia Refuses To Remove “Muhammad” Cartoons
Back in 2005, a Danish newspaper published 12 cartoons depicting the Islamic prophet Muhammad in some controversial poses, including the most famous image of him wearing a bomb as a turban. This led to a load of riots and protests in the Muslim world, and more than 100 people died as a result.
Of course, the images were on the internet within hours, and so they were never going to disappear completely. The free online encyclopedia Wikipedia was unsure whether to allow them on their article covering the controversy. The subsequent debate went on for almost two years (officially starting on 11th April after Wikipedia removed the images).
However, two days ago the debate ended and the decision was made to reinstate the images in the article, but to tag them with an id so people can remove the images from their view of the page.
Important notice: Prior discussion has determined that pictures of Muhammad will not be removed from this article
It’s a long deserved victory for those who support freedom of speech and expression, and another blow for people who think that religious rules should be followed by everyone. We live in a secular society, and freedom of speech should be respected, especially on the World Wide Web.
Thanks to Spread Rationality for the link!
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Freedom is the only way forward.
ewanm89
28 Feb 08 at 1:27 am (GMT)
Glad to hear this. :)
Ryan Ashbrook
28 Feb 08 at 1:31 am (GMT)
I agree that wikipedia shouldn’t be at all concerned with whether the images are shown or not, since it is a only describing the controversy, and as such one owuld think the cartoons would appear there, since it is ABOUT them.
I still say it was a numbskull move to publish them in the first place, however, since it basically amounts to the print version of what we call here on the internet a “flamer” or “troll”. The comics didn’t have much value beyond shock, and basically look like the kind of crap you see in Cracked or Mad.
John
28 Feb 08 at 2:02 am (GMT)
dont know its just ‘about’ them. cause we’re the devil.
enrs
28 Feb 08 at 9:56 pm (GMT)
[...] nach einer zweijährigen “internen” Diskussion die Mohammed-Karikaturen wieder ~ Wikipedia refuses to remove “Muhammad” cartoons Saturday, March 1, 2008 | at 1:56 [...]
Wikipedia löscht Mohammed-Karikaturen nicht | A GRIM DRAFT
1 Mar 08 at 12:55 pm (GMT)
I am an iranian ,I’m really happy to hear that. I think the free world should publish more,much more of those,you might not realize that but I’m an iranian and my country is being ruled by these beasts.
I tell you sth.we hear a lot that bush is this,bush is that,but if these mullahs have a chance they will kill you all because in their concept people who are not muslim are not humans as well and should be killed(its in Quran).
so we’re really concerned about this atomic issue,I can’t imagine the massacre that is to occur if they are not stopped ….
pedro
2 Mar 08 at 10:19 am (GMT)
[...] nach einer zweijährigen “internen” Diskussion die Mohammed-Karikaturen wieder ~ Wikipedia refuses to remove “Muhammad” cartoons « Statt Impfungen nun Epidemien [...]
DER MISANTHROP » Blog Archiv » Wikipedia vs. Mohammed-Karikaturen
18 Mar 08 at 9:59 pm (GMT)
This is not about freedom of speach man its about people’s feelings. If someone abuses you or even if I abuse you then will you be glad because I got the freedom of speach or will you be angry?
And one more thing that it is not in the Quran that people who are not muslims are not humans, please if you dont know anything then dont say about it and one more that about these sucide bombers who say we do all this stuff because of Allah, well Allah says in Quran that if someone kills an innocent human a muslim or non-muslim, his sin is equal to killing the whole humanity and he is not a muslim either, he is excluded from Islam right away.
If you have any misunderstandings about Islam then please give me a chance to remove it…my email is: chris_incomplete47@hotmail.com
Moosa
28 Mar 08 at 10:21 am (GMT)
Moosa,
Of course naturally I will be angry because you “abused” me, but that won’t change my opinion on freedom of speech. I may not have liked what you said to me, but I will stand 100% behind you for your freedom to say it!
That’s the beauty of freedom of speech, it gives everyone an equal platform or respect, where any view can be established. Now, I’m perfectly in support of the Muslims voicing their opinions over the drawings since he is their prophet. However, I expect them to allow anyone else to voice their opinions, and to draw things like the cartoons in the first place. Sure, it may have been a cartoon over-exaggerating the Islam religion, but the artist felt he was getting a message across, and he has ever right to do that.
Let’s turn the situation around. Say some artist drew or painted a load of atheists, and set the background as Hell. The work would be called something like “Atheists: Your Final Destination”. Sure, it’s insulting to atheists, and I’m sure I would write a lovely long blog post to rant about it! However, he has every reason to feel the way he does, and to paint what he painted. I would never ask him to take it down, as long as he never asks me to not voice my opinion.
Freedom of speech and expression are the most important values in our society. Everyone is equal under them as the system works, as long as everyone respects each other’s right to opinion.
Adrian Hayter
28 Mar 08 at 1:25 pm (GMT)
I agree with you but its a little diffrent reason over hear. If someone if drawing your potrait without seeing you he is not able to know how you look. Same is with these cartoons and personally and you also may agree that these pictures are little bit funny looking. Thats why we are against it. The qualities that God gave to him or even you cannot be pictured by a human being. It is just like discuesing a topic without any information. I hope you people understand.
Moosa
3 Apr 08 at 9:27 am (GMT)
The quality was off because he was a cartoon artist, not a portrait artist. One would expect cartoons to have that “shabby” look about them. Yes they are funny looking, if you take the word “funny” to mean “absolutely hilarious and that artist should be a billionaire”. At the end of the day, the artist was working on basic Islamic beliefs, that he was an Arab and being such had a beard. The cartoon depicts a bearded Arab…how much other basic information do you want him to give? Perhaps a name tag that says “Prophet Muhammad” or something? Only that wouldn’t be keeping with the time period would it. Heck, he even drew the bomb as one of those old round ones with a fuse like they used to use, as opposed to the more recent computerised ones.
Adrian Hayter
3 Apr 08 at 10:04 am (GMT)
hey did you deleted my post?
Moosa
7 Apr 08 at 8:02 am (GMT)
Eh? Your posts are still here…
Adrian Hayter
7 Apr 08 at 12:10 pm (GMT)
[...] a blog post of my own. I thought about submitting something controversial (like the one about Muhammad or Jesus), but instead I chose the post that really started the site off; “101 Atheist [...]
Carnival of the Godless #89 | The Atheist Blogger
14 Apr 08 at 2:54 pm (GMT)
I advise you all to read this article
http://www.islamicinformation.net/2008/06/danish-cartoons-islamic-perspective.html
Lukman
29 Jun 08 at 10:38 pm (GMT)