Cartoons ControversyThe cartoons of Mohammed first appeared in a Danish paper Jyllands-Posten in September. Islam forbids depictions of Mohammed and many Muslims were furious at the drawings, one of which shows the religious figure wearing a turban shaped like a bomb. Some other European papers later published some of the cartoons, as a way of covering the controversy and also, some papers said, as a matter of freedom of expression. Two small weekly Jordanian newspapers also reprinted the cartoons and, according to Jordan's Petra News Agency, arrest warrants issued for the editors-in-chief.The Danish paper issued an apology in late January after weeks of quieter expressions of outrage and diplomatic efforts to avoid the widespread violence. The Danish government says it does not control what is in the country's newspapers and that courts will determine whether the newspaper that originally published the cartoons is guilty of blasphemy. But tens of thousands of Muslims around the world continue to stage protests -- some resulting in deaths -- over the cartoons.I have read all these news regarding blasphemy, both against the Almighty Himself and the Prophet (p). From my limited understanding of the Qur'an, blasphemy laws do not really have any basis, either in the Qur'an or the Sunnah of the Prophet (p). What I gather is that one is asked either to leave the company of those who do blaspheme or to keep calm and hold to forgiveness, since God is the Final Judge. The examples of all the Prophets (p) as cited in the Qur'an is, I think, a perfect example of holding to the Almighty's Help and Mercy.However, for any society that intends to create and atmosphere of Islamic values, slurs and insults aimed at God, any of his Prophets (p) or Religion in general, cannot be accepted as the social norm. Indeed, many people do in fact find Islam, they may have started off "studying" Religion in a less than satisfactory manner.I do understand why Muslims may get angered. I too get angry when people willfully insult and abuse God, the Prophet etc. But I feel that Muslims have nothing to be ashamed of, nor anything to be frightened of when it comes to Islam. We should concentrate on propagating the truthful picture, both in words and more importantly in actions. It is the duty of the Muslim state to pass balanced legislations, which on the one hand should strongly discourage people from making any uncalled for comments regarding the revered personalities of its citizens (whether Muslims or non-Muslims), while on the other, saves its citizens from becoming targets of hate crimes.
