Publisher to suspend cartoon sales after Muslims say it insults Islam

Wednesday 21st May, 09:06 AM JST

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Latest 15 of 132 Total Comments Show All

Saiyuki.requiem at 12:11 AM JST - 24th May

So please enlighten me, why do Muslims who go and get ready to go to war over a cartoon get your appeasement but those who are not Muslim, and are questioning whether the religion is really one of peace with all twinkly bells and is better than all other, as you claim, instead get your wrath of criticism. You really need to start checking how you can live with yourself as you defend something as outlandish as this is yet any flack from it warrants destruction."

Skipthesong, you and toolongheremaybe should get together and colloborate because you too have your A game figured.
nipbaka at 08:26 PM JST - 24th May

The Japanese are just copying as usual that famous Danish cartoon. Which was harmless by the way.
oneinafew at 09:06 PM JST - 24th May

As an Egyptian Internet cafe owner in Cairo, Yassin, believes the objective of the Japanese producers is to say, ‘‘This evil character derives its subversive ideas from this book, the Holy Quran...this indicates the deep-rooted rancor against Islam and the misconceptions about Quran meanings.’’ ‘‘This is unjustifiable,’’ he said.

So the writer couldnt do what he did (in a cartoon!) but its ok for the Muslim community to harbour terrorist? I believe the writings and intentions in the Quran are intended to be good but its like they deny the fact the biggest terrorist groups in the world are actually Muslim. Get rid of the terrorists and themisconceptions` will take care of themselves.
SaikoStar at 09:00 PM JST - 25th May

and yet it is ok for islam to use cartoon charesters for propaganda? makes you think: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCNGJtIg73s
capone at 09:22 PM JST - 25th May

muslims think EVERYTHING insults islam...maybe they should lighten up
1proudamerican at 04:33 AM JST - 27th May

if there religon is so thin skined maybe thats why the middle east is in constint upheavel,or not,im tired of trying to understand the middle east.
kinniku at 09:31 AM JST - 27th May

I'm sorry. I do not see the need to bash Islam or Muslims when commenting about this article. When you feel the need to put down a whole religion and all of its followers, you jump right into the realm of racism.

Terms such as 'Islam does this or that' or 'Muslim think or do this or that' or not only incorrect, but they are inappropriate. If you have any doubt, try changing your personal belief form in place of the words 'Islam' or 'Muslim' and see the result. These blanket statements are just as bad as the extremist opinions quoted in the article.

Why not try understanding each other more? Then maybe we wouldn't have to worry about extremists of all faiths trying to take over over lives and our world.
kaffir at 11:14 AM JST - 27th May

kinniku it is hard to believe that you feel there is any islam bashing going on when most people are asking muslims to be tolerant of other views and expressions. Looks like your need to re-read the article and comments. Try reading LFRAgain and notimpressed posts
kinniku at 04:19 PM JST - 27th May

kaffir,

kinniku it is hard to believe that you feel there is any islam bashing going on when most people are asking muslims to be tolerant of other views and expressions. Looks like your need to re-read the article and comments.

Thank you for the suggestion. As I don't have any complaints about the article, I'll take your suggestion and re-read the comments...

Of course, I did not suggest that all comments were bashing Islam and Muslim. In addition, I am against Islamic extremists as much as I am against all religious extremist. If people were specifically referring to extremism, I would not have a quarrel with their argument. However by re-reading let's see what we come up with...

I find so much that has been done and said in the name of Islam offensive, and yet, where is MY apology?

I find Islam is far more offensive in its conservatism/ medievel thinking and actions

If Islam wanted the world to like them

and yet it is ok for islam to use cartoon charesters for propaganda

muslims think EVERYTHING insults islam

I would boycott all Muslim owned produce but my car wont go too well without oil.

but its ok for the Muslim community to harbour terrorist?

Respectfully, these comments don't sound very moderate to me. They seem to be lumping all Muslims and in fact all of Islam in one neat convenient package to which all the world's ills can be blamed. For me, I don' think it is just or correct to lump a bunch of innocent people in with extremists.

Ironically, my guess is some of these same posters who are lumping all Muslims together would be the same kinds of non-Japanese who get all hot under the caller when a Japanese person uses the phrase 'We Japanese' when discussing Japanese culture.
kinniku at 04:20 PM JST - 27th May

Sorry, the quote function didn't seem to work. Hopefully you can understand where my comments begin and end and the quotes begin and end.
LFRAgain at 05:36 PM JST - 27th May

Kinniku,

Islam, or rather the rules, codes, and beliefs that make up Islam, are at the heart of the argument. And no, criticism of these does not come anywhere close to the realm of "racism." Race has nothing to do with it. Religious discrimination, certainly, but not "racism." Sure, it’s just as negative, but let’s call it what it really is.

Why not try understanding each other more?

Would that the sentiment went both ways. I can't speak for others, but for me, my ire comes from the sheer hypocrisy and irony of Islamic leaders asking for, no, demanding respect for their beliefs when their beliefs tend to be diametrically opposed to the free expression and respect of religious choice. In Malaysia, for example, considered to be a moderate Islamic nation, one cannot simply quit being Muslim. It’s forbidden under penalty of imprisonment.

I can understand much of what you're saying and I appreciate the even tone you bring to the conversation. I agree wholeheartedly that gross generalizations do no one any favors here, and to lump all Muslims into one of three categories – Terrorist, Harborer of Terrorists, or Terrorist Sympathizer – is blatantly unfair, not to mention ignorant.

But it begs the question: When the vast majority of the world’s Muslims are indeed peaceful, how is it that the extremists seem to be all that the world can hear in the public discourse?

As you suggest, there are radicals in every religion and walk of life, but it can be well argued that Islamic radical have an influence and impact that far exceeds anything accomplished by other religious radicals of the world. Their impact is indeed global, and has far-reaching consequences that exceed anything I’ve ever seen from other religious radicals, including Japan Aum cult members who Sarin-gassed the Tokyo subway system or warped Right-to-Life murderers who gun down doctors at abortion clinics.

Right now, the world is on the brink of yet another war in the Middle East, this time between the West and Iran over a nuclear weapons program in the hands of an Islamic regime that has not been shy in the past about using dramatic violence to further its political and religious views. When one speaks of prominent Islamic radicals, there isn’t anyone more prominent or radical than the current president of Iran, who claims, among other things, that the Jewish Holocaust never happened.

Where’s the public outrage and condemnation of Ahmadinejad’s comments from the millions of Indonesian and Malaysian Muslims? Where’s the unconditional rejection of Ahmadinejad’s lunacy from other Middle-Eastern states? Where are the Muslim leaders of state demanding security council resolutions and censures in the United Nations? Sure, there’s the politically expedient “distancing” from the comments that happens in order to preserve diplomatic and economic ties. But open and resolute condemnation? Not really. And you ask why there's such a lack of understanding in the world?
kinniku at 07:12 PM JST - 27th May

LFRAgain,

Thank you very much for your commentary. I found it very interesting and well-written. I agree with an awful lot of what you wrote. Some points:

Islam, or rather the rules, codes, and beliefs that make up Islam, are at the heart of the argument.

I respectfully disagree. I think the heart of the argument is the extremist interpretations of the rules, codes and beliefs that make up Islam. It is a problem of how aspects such as Sharia are misinterpreted and misused by extremists.

And no, criticism of these does not come anywhere close to the realm of "racism." Race has nothing to do with it. Religious discrimination, certainly, but not "racism." Sure, it’s just as negative, but let’s call it what it really is.

Yes and no. I think there are far too many cases of people imagining "the bad brown Muslims", rather than just thinking of this as a religious disagreement. However, I do see your point and I agree wholeheartedly that it is negative.

And you ask why there's such a lack of understanding in the world?

Yes, even with your points taken. I ask the same question. Even in this discussion, quite a few posters didn't seem to see the great opportunity they had when a poster with a very brief posting history tried to moderately discuss their personal views of Islam and the situation involving the cartoon.

As I wrote earlier, it is in no way my intention to defend extremists or suggest people try to understand extremists. However, I think there are occasions when moderate Muslims do speak and their voices are passed over or not noticed. I have on this very board expressed my frustration over the lack of a clear and loud voice among moderate Muslims. However, I do think the world could go a step further in creating an environment in which moderate Muslims would feel more comfortable and supportive expressing their opinions.

Again, thank you so much for your well thought out post. People such as yourself can only help to make things better in the long run.
Blue_Tiger at 05:26 AM JST - 28th May

The cartoons in question, usaexpat, show Mohammed badyl: that's why the Islamics are up in arms. Further, that is why a couple of years ago, the Islamic World literally bashed and dashed asnything Danish, thanks to a Danish Newspaper's publishing of photos that, according to Muslims, Degraded the prophet.
famousd at 02:24 PM JST - 31st May

Too bad for Muslims, that they cannot make fun of Jesus, since Jesus is also in Islam. I don't see any comics, manga, anime or any animations that show killers with crosses and Christian related items. Why is this so? Sounds like fear to me. Make Muslims look bad, because you fear. Fear that maybe people will convert? I don't know. some one needs to explain that to me, please. Does it have anything to do with the fact that Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world? Also, if someone could explain why so many people would convert to Islam, if the Muslims are so violent? If someone hear has more knowledge about this, can you share it with me?
Saicook at 12:46 AM JST - 15th June

well,imagine that USA's people suddenly convert to Islam,USA will receive some Critical Damages: Economics funds will go down hill:any alcohol included products (bars business will be halted),Pork meat...will be thrown,Casinos will be closed.. and more. Social behaviour change:disapearence of 2 of the daily most important pleasures of a non-muslim. so USA is doing her best to falsify islam in Americans/World's eyes to prevent that.an example: the youtube video that was posted by SaikoStar,i think its purpose was to justify the mass murder of "Muslim" children,considering them "Terrorists" too,honestly i was like "hahahahah" for a while when i was watching that,that Mickey Mouse's accent was obviously not an arab's, also the video that in the backgound was showed with only Subtitles,children's facial expressions and lips movements weren't compatible with the subtitles,i think they were reading some poems or something.Plus, what was written was waaaay different from Islam's Policy,children aren't allowed to partiptate in wars or become soldiers...never mind i don't wanna speak too much about details but if anyone is interested i will. Note:i'm not too good in english. i agree with almost every word that kinnku said,and i find the manner which you all discuss with, the best.i respect you all !

i think i'll do my best to answer your questions famousd,later when i have enough energy.