Another year, another Mohammed cartoon controversy. According to Wikipedia, the Örebro-based regional newspaper Nerikes Allehanda published a drawing by Lars Vilks that depected the prophet Mohammed at a dog. It was part an editorial that aimed to defend "Muslim's right of freedom of religion," the very same freedom that should permit the "ridicule Islam's most foremost symbols — just like all other religions' symbols."
Well, apparently Muslims don't have a sense of humor, because on August 25, a group of about 60 Muslims held a demonstration outside Nerikes Allehanda's office in Örebro to protest against the publication. Following the publication, the Swedish police has raised the security level around the newspaper's headquarters and some of its employees have been forced to use bodyguards after receiving death threats. Vilks himself has also received several death threats, and according to The Daily Cartoonist, has a $100,000 bounty on his head (an additional $50k if he’s beheaded).
UPDATE 9/21/07
Here's a video from Reuters with reporters speaking to Swedish newspaper cartoonist Lars Vilks, who says he's not concerned by reports al-Queda in Iraq has offered a reward for his murder.
Here are some links:
Swedish Cartoonist: It’s good to know how much one is worth
The Daily Cartoonist
Police halt Bangla protest over blasphemous cartoon
The Peninsula - Qatar's Leading English Daily
Turkish cartoonists condemn insulting sketch in Sweden
The Journal of Turkish Weekly
Cartoon Response to Demonstrators from Vilks's Weblog
Wikipedia
Artist says Prophet picture meant to stir debate
Canada.com
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