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Britons Defend Freedom of Speech in Cartoon Case
(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Many adults in Britain see no problem with the cartoons depicting Muslim prophet Mohammed, according to a poll by YouGov published in the Sunday Times. 56 per cent of respondents believe it was right to publish the drawings in the interests of freedom of speech.
On Sept. 30, 2005, Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten accompanied an article on censorship and freedom of the press with 12 cartoons depicting Muslim prophet Mohammed. The two most contentious drawings show Mohammed with a bomb for a turban, and greeting suicide bombers in heaven.
The article noted that Danish writer Kare Bluitgen had faced many difficulties in finding an illustrator for a children's book that featured Mohammed. Islam usually forbids depictions of Mohammed, as a measure to curb idolatry.
Over the past few weeks, several European newspapers and media outlets decided to re-print the cartoons. Public protests have occurred in more than a dozen countries, and the embassies of Denmark and Norway in Syria—as well as the Danish consulate in Lebanon—have been torched by mobs. 86 per cent of respondents believe most of the protests amount to a gross over-reaction.
The Jyllands-Posten has issued an apology, saying it did not intend to offend Muslims. Culture editor Flemming Rose explained that the public outcry over the drawings happened after "radical imams from Denmark traveled to the Middle East, deliberately lying about these cartoons."
On Feb. 12, British prime minister Tony Blair discussed the situation, saying, "I think it is very important to distinguish between two elements here. One is the genuine sense of offence amongst Muslims at the cartoons that is entirely understandable. The other is violence, threatening of individuals, burning of embassies, the attempt to target certain individuals whether from Denmark or elsewhere and that is just completely unacceptable."
Polling Data
As you probably know, some cartoons of the prophet Mohammed, originally published in Denmark and republished elsewhere, have caused offence to many Muslims. Which of these statements comes closer to your view?
They should never have been published | 29% |
It was right that they were published, | 56% |
Don't know | 15% |
Which of these statements comes closer to your view, regarding the worldwide Muslim protests against the cartoons?
In many cases the protests | 86% |
It was understandable that | 7% |
Don't know | 7% |
Source: YouGov / Sunday Times
Methodology: Online interviews with 1,617 British adults, conducted on Feb. 9 and Feb. 10, 2006. No margin of error was provided.