The french newspaper "France-Soir" actually got some financial problems, this is why it's jumped on this bandwagon thinking that it will resolve its problems. Indeed France-Soir is on the verge of bankruptcy.
See : http://www.tageblatt.lu/edition/article.asp?ArticleId=45296

I heared that the redaction chief of France-Soir was fired today

I agree with you tha protests are an appropriate way to express anger over this. However i also beleive that the press can caricature just about anything they want. This is how western freedom works.
Targeting foreign tourists from countries where this happens is not an appropriate response however. This is racism at it's worst.
The peopel in those place are not responsible for the choices of others, and neither are their governmetns.

Hey Bro., Great Post Again.

"my Previous comment stands"

As a Muslim, in my “humble” opinion:

1- Cartons/Caricatures are a great way to express a “FACT” in a sarcastic manner. The reason for the outrage for those Cartons/Caricatures is that they are NOT expressing a “FACT” at all. Our great prophet “Mohammad P.B.U.H.” left this world 1400 years ago; if anyone wants to show him as someone other than what he really is; we as Muslims demand a solid proof – not from government controlled media or URLs created by god know who – of that.

2- Double standard: If you make fun of anything to do with Muslims you are expressing your “Freedom of speech”, HOWEVER, if you make fun of Jews – the holocaust for example – then you are “ANTI SEMETIC”. Dare anyone in the western world cross this red line? They’ll be screwed so fast “by their own governments” that they won’t even know what hit them. Looks to me that “Freedom of speech” does have its limits after all!!!!

3- Finally Islam as a religion demands that “ALL” Muslims “MUST” respect all people from all races, ethnic backgrounds and yes “ALL” religions. If someone broke this Rule point the finger at “THEM” NOT at the religion itself. After all followers are humans not gods or prophets. Mass global western media is a tool – guess who is controlling it? – that is deliberately hiding this point and is spreading mass hatred towards Muslims. So far they have succeeded in using this tool to manipulate public opinion like chess pieces to fuel their war machine. This Crap has to stop, and if we don’t stop it now all of us, we’ll be practically giving full control of our planet to the few who are controlling This tool.

this post was linked on maghreblog.net

"1- Cartons/Caricatures are a great way to express a “FACT” in a sarcastic manner. The reason for the outrage for those Cartons/Caricatures is that they are NOT expressing a “FACT” at all. Our great prophet “Mohammad P.B.U.H.” left this world 1400 years ago; if anyone wants to show him as someone other than what he really is; we as Muslims demand a solid proof – not from government controlled media or URLs created by god know who – of that." The cartoons are not intended to represent any truth. They are just a fairly vapid attempt at humour and political commentary. And what government controlled media are you referring to?

"2- Double standard: If you make fun of anything to do with Muslims you are expressing your “Freedom of speech”, HOWEVER, if you make fun of Jews – the holocaust for example – then you are “ANTI SEMETIC”. Dare anyone in the western world cross this red line? They’ll be screwed so fast “by their own governments” that they won’t even know what hit them. Looks to me that “Freedom of speech” does have its limits after all!!!! " The mohammed caricatures are not the comparable with mocking the sufferring of Jews in the Holocaust.

"3- Finally Islam as a religion demands that “ALL” Muslims “MUST” respect all people from all races, ethnic backgrounds and yes “ALL” religions. If someone broke this Rule point the finger at “THEM” NOT at the religion itself. After all followers are humans not gods or prophets. Mass global western media is a tool – guess who is controlling it? – that is deliberately hiding this point and is spreading mass hatred towards Muslims. So far they have succeeded in using this tool to manipulate public opinion like chess pieces to fuel their war machine. This Crap has to stop, and if we don’t stop it now all of us, we’ll be practically giving full control of our planet to the few who are controlling This tool." That's a totally unfounded, ridiculous conspiracy theory. YOu have a bloated persecution complex.

To andrewb:

Thanks a million for making my point :)

You have successfully demonstrated a form of intolerance – justifying things as you see fit – in the process of defending your views.

um, no, I was just pointing out how ridiculous some of things you were saying were.

Likewise.

Look, nobody is saying that the west is trying to prevent the 'Muslims' or 'Arabs' from saying what they like but really boycotting products will in the long run damage yourselves just as much as it will damage Denmark...there is a reason you trade with Denmark - ever tried Lurpack? Sorry if what I say seems irrelevant but like has been pointed out why is it only the Muslims that feel like they are constantly being pointed the finger at? I don't see the jews complaining and boycotting other arab states for their religious prejudice. If its sooo true about the Muslims are told to respect all other religions how come if you are jewish you can't enter certain arab/muslim countries? Don't argue with this as it is a fact - I am currently living in one of those states! How can you point the finger at one Muslim then when it is countries predominantly Muslim that are dictating the rules! How come you don't all get together to boycott these places until they stop being so anti-semetic?

Sara,
There is a difference between a “Jew” and an “Israeli”, we don’t allow “Israeli” citizens to entering countries.
As a “Jew” you are more than welcome to visit, live, work ..etc. as long as you respect the laws of the our lands when you do so.
for a fact there are:
Egyptian Jews, Syrian Jews, Tunisian Jews, Iraqi Jews and the list goes on. And their synagogues are still there in those Muslim countries . And some of them are still living there as we speak.
To keep is short:
In 1917 Britain occupied Palestine – a Muslim province of all Islamic empires – “By Force” and worked “By Force” to establish a military system that would insure full control over it. And “forced” a massive influx of Jewish immigration.
Then in 1948, British Armies handed over control to an entity which declared itself “By Force” as the state of Israel. The UN and the US immediately recognized it. “Force” has been used ever since in an effort to “ethnically clines” Palestine of it’s people.
Notice how many time I’ve used the word “Force”.
All Muslims do not recognize Israel, logically we do not recognize anyone holding it’s passport. Even if some of our governments do so, the Muslim people will never accept it.
We are not anti Semitic. As you nicely put it, we’ll be contradicting ourselves as Muslims if we do. We are Anti Israeli. For the reasons I’ve described above.
What did Muslims do to Jews in WW2? Nothing, we were living in our lands, minding our business until Guns, tanks, fighter planes dropped by our lands in 1917.
And since we can prove that we are NOT Anti Semitic:
How do the Israelis respond? They launch a worldwide campaign to start referring to their entity as the “Jewish State” and start to brain wash people into believing that if you are anti Israeli then you are Anti Jew then by definition Anti Semitic. This is B.S.

The fact of the Middle Eastern conflict is:

If you use your religious believes as a Jew to justify using force and any means necessary “Media included” to invade my land and create your religious state. Then I have all the right as a Muslim to fight back on equal terms.

andrewb said:
" The Mohammad caricatures are not the comparable with mocking the sufferring of Jews in the Holocaust."

please be unbiased for a minute and think about this. "freedom of speech" states that you have the right to say whatever you feel like, we are saying if this is how you define it then why would it be a crime if you make fun of the holocaust?

no body is comparing any thing, only a simple logical question...

now, we Muslims won't make fun of other religions not because we lack that modern feel of "freedom of speech", that you THINK you have, but because we respect your religious figures as they are ours as well.

in the bigger picture we are not discussing the case of the pervert caricatures, it's the raising movement of ignorance about the other which is leading many people to the Cancer of today's international relations which is ISLAMOPHOBIA.

Nasser, I'm just curious. When jets carrying innocent people crashed into the World Trade Center killing even more innocent people in the name of Allah, I failed to see Muslims taking to the streets armed with automatic assault riffles condemning the attacks. When a group of Muslims beheads an innocent westerner while the rest of his brothers look on and shout out "Alluh khbar!" (or something to that extent), I didn't seem to see the Muslim world take notice. The world never sees Muslims on CNN talking about how they condemn the killing of innocent people in the name of Allah but they break out the assualy riffles and call out war when a cartoon makes it to press. Granted that you find it offensive, shouldn't you find it offensive as well when Muhammad and Allah's name are used by psycopathic maniacs to foster their perverted, maniacal interests? You want to rid the world of what you refer to as Islamophobia? Maybe you should start by cleaning your backyard first. No disrespect meant brother. Just a thought. Just a thought.

Khadra,

Here's what you said: "There is a difference between a “Jew” and an “Israeli”, we don’t allow “Israeli” citizens to entering countries."

I have never heard such non-sensical rationalle.

Regardless of whether the "Israeli" is a "Jew" or a "Christian" or Hindu or what have you makes no difference. A state is not a religion. A state is not some piece of real estate you draw borders around. A state is its people. When you declare war on a state, you declare war on all of its people. When you disregard a nation's right to exist, you deny its people the right to exist. Paraphrase it anyway you wish - it will always boil down to that simple fact.

And I strongly suggest you not talk about the use of force. Israel exists. It is real. In the midst of all the violence - violence the Muslim world is throwing at it - it's prospering! Show us one Muslim country that's been able to accomplish what they have in such a short period of time. What's more is that in my belief, it's here to stay. "They're" here to stay. The sonner the Muslim world comes to term with that fact, the better. You can't wipe it off the face of the earth like some of your psychologically-challenged leaders claim. 3 Muslim armies tried to take them on decades ago and lost pitifully. 3 armies! WTF!?

So if you want to take them on now, be my guest. Don't say I didn't warn you though.

Wolverine,

I agree with everything you said. I’d like to point out typos in your comments which need to be corrected for the sake of historical accuracy:

You need to replace “Israeli” with “Palestinian”
And
You need to replace “Israel” with “Palestine”

A part from that. Good job. And keep up the good work

Khadra,

A look into history will reveal that the Jewish people have laid claim to the land of Israel for over 3,000 years. The Romans took it from the first Israelis, then the Arabs took it from the Romans, and so on and so forth.

So, you see, they've always been there, constantly embattled and driven out, only to return. Arab land owners even sold Israelis large estates of property back in the not so old days (circa 1880's). Why they would later take them on after making money out of them is beyond me though. Might be that the Israelis made pretty darn good & productive use of the land.

Feel free to have a look into the old books in case you doubt what I'm saying. If 3,000 years of history is wrong then yeah, I made a few typos dude.

Wolverine,

Once again I agree with everything you said. "3,000" it is.

p.s.
When I say "historical accuracy" i mean "5,000+" yearold history.

Hint: Use the Pyramids as your historical baseline. Oh I’m sorry, “Israelites” didn’t even exit then the “Felestines” did. I take this hint back. your history doesn't go that far :)

Good job. And keep up the good work

Truly!? Wow! Can you please show everyone where you got this information from? History is such an intriguing subject, is it not?