Danish editor explains cartoon rationale

Posted by Martin Stabe on 20 February 2006 at 15:18
Tags: International, Muhammad cartoons, Newspapers

Writing in yesterday’s Washington Post, the Danish editor who commissioned those cartoons explains why he did it.

Jyllands-Posten culture editor Flemming Rose writes:

… I commissioned the cartoons in response to several incidents of self-censorship in Europe caused by widening fears and feelings of intimidation in dealing with issues related to Islam. And I still believe that this is a topic that we Europeans must confront, challenging moderate Muslims to speak out. The idea wasn’t to provoke gratuitously — and we certainly didn’t intend to trigger violent demonstrations throughout the Muslim world. Our goal was simply to push back self-imposed limits on expression that seemed to be closing in tighter.

It’s certainly worth a read.

Tags: International, Muhammad cartoons, Newspapers