Effing the Ineffable

Demystifying the Muhammed Cartoon Controversy

Abstract

On September 30th of 2005 the Jyllands-Posten, a Danish newspaper, published twelve cartoons of the Muslim prophet Muhammad. Islamic law forbids all depictions of Muhammad because they are idolatrous, and the fact that these cartoons were perceived as disrespectful intensified the offence. Many Danish Muslims felt that these illustrations were inappropriate, even discriminatory; people staged protests and demanded apologies, and Muslim organizations condemned the Jyllands-Posten. Regardless, the cartoons – and other, even more insulting ones – quickly spread. Newspapers in dozens of countries reprinted the offending cartoons, and the speed of internet communications meant that the illustrations were available for viewing by anyone. As more and more countries became involved, protests escalated to riots and people on both sides of the controversy were killed.