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Far-right group shows Mohammed (PBUH) cartoon at Berlin mosque
Some 50 militants of Pro Deutschland group brandish copies of Danish cartoons amid heavy police presence.
A man takes part in a rally of the far-right group Pro Deutschland near the As-Sahaba mosque in Berlin's Wedding district on August 18, 2012 in Berlin, Germany. PHOTO: AFP
BERLIN: A far-right group displayed a caricature of the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) outside a Berlin mosque Saturday amid a heavy police presence, while far-leftists and anti-Nazis staged a counter-demonstration.
The protest by some 50 militants of the Pro Deutschland group aimed at extremists went ahead after a court allowed them to brandish copies of cartoons whose original appearance in Denmark sparked violent reactions across the globe.
Islamic law prohibits depictions of the prophet (PBUH).
The administrative court in the German capital rejected Thursday a complaint filed by three mosque congregations “to prevent the citizens’ movement Pro Deutschland from showing so-called Mohammed (PBUH) caricatures in front of their premises.”
It said the cartoons were protected as “artistic freedom” and could not legally be considered as abuse of a religious group.
“Simply showing the Mohammed (PBUh) cartoons does not qualify as a call to hatred or violence against a specific segment of the population,” the court said.
Pro Deutschland activists rallied outside a mosque reputed to be a hotbed of the Islamic Salafist community on Saturday carrying a placard reading “Stop Islamisation” as well as the cartoon.
They planned to do the same outside two other mosques in the working-class district of Wedding and protest outside squats held by the extreme left on Sunday.
Police were bracing for clashes at the Berlin demonstrations after violence broke out during similar rallies by the extreme right against Salafists in May in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Authorities estimate there are about 2,500 Salafists in Germany. They espouse an austere form of Sunni Islam, but officials in Germany accuse them of also condoning violence against state institutions.
In June Germany banned a Salafist group and hundreds of police raided more than 70 homes, schools and mosques across the country in a clamp-down on “dangerous extremists”.
Reader Comments (49)
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Who is spreading extremism???
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that is freedom of expression, they have the right to do so. does any body cares if Christians are prohibited to practice there religion even in private in Saudi Arabia?
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Yes please show them and we dont care, nor we are concerned.
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muslims getting the taste of their own medicine
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I don’t blame them. They are Infidels after all. The Holy Quran has clearly stated that they won’t befriend you and respect your religion unless you convert to their beliefs.
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Europe is so polarized that everything reflects their prejudice. Why muslims give them the opportunity to make these matters worse? Many extremist were caught earlier and this gave way to groups like these.
I have seen some muslims demanding sharia for germany. For what? Why do they draw attention towards themselves?
The best way to protest is to relinquish the nationality of this country which was unislamic in the first place. Somebody did mention that earlier.
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These farrrrrrrr-right people in Germany are way way better and more civilised than the far right people in Pakistan who killed innocent Shias in the bus, who burn mentally challenged man for ‘blasphemy’, who arrest Ahmadis for ‘posing’ as muslims, who cause Hindus to migrate to India.s If these ‘far-right’ people were in Pakistn, they would fall in the category of ‘peaceful demonstrators’.
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@paki christian: You are so right my Christian brother. In saudi, they would confiscate Bhagwad Gita, Bible etc at the airport if they find out that its non-islamic religious text. Many Muslims are really hypocrites, because they want full freedom in non-muslim countries, but don’t support same freedom for non-muslims in muslim countries. Such a shame.
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@paki christian:
You guys have the problem with everything,why you mingle in our matters and than create another issue from a previously debatable matter.
If you have some issues raise them separately!!!
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@paki_christian: freedom of speech is only limited to a place, where it is not hate speech… This act clearly comes under the “hate speech” issue and it really hurts billions of people in the world
“does any body cares if Christians are prohibited to practice there religion even in private in Saudi Arabia?”
Does the government place cameras in their homes?? People do care. Saudi Arab is changing a lot.. World powers are not too aggressive when it comes to SA as it is a source of revenue..
No doubts that even in Pakistan, minorities should have a lot more rights than what they have now. We should work together for that… But such acts and supporting such acts is not going to help
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@paki
Have you ever been to saudi arabia? Ive seen people openly carrying bibles while being checked in at the baggage check. WHich world do u live in?
Additionally while saudi arabia may not be a paradise of religious freedom, why do you use it to stereotype the whole mid east? Arent there churches in UAE, oman, egypt, Lebanon, syria, bahrain, yemen and even in the occupied Palestinian territories? What about North africa? there are many churches and synagogues in tunis, tripoli, fez and across the entire region..
Saudi arabia is the only theocracy (mixed with an autocratic system which is not exactly condone in the sharia) there…but still nobody questions what do you within the premises of your home…before you open your mouth go and visit places
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So, who should be labelled as extremist and intolerant now. I won’t be surprised to see some suicides attacks there.Recommend
@ejaaz i live in Saudi Arabia.. right now i am disscussing the religious intolerance! if saudi dont allows Christian churches, why would any body have prob if germany dont allows Mosque
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@Karachities: PAKISTAN.
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Whats wrong with it. you wont let people from other faith eat during this month, you kick out the natives from their homeland, you drag minorities out of the bus and shoot them and you consider that to be just fine but a silly cartoon is some how bad?
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@paki christian … What if your freedom of expression is hurting millions others… It is totally ridiculousness..
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@paki
I would like to ask you one question, would Muslims be allowed to build a mousque in Vatican?
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I live in Germany and i am ashamed of the way the Salafists project Islam. They are surely extremists and fanatics since they consider all other Muslim sects as non-muslims. In Germany there are a large number of Ahmadi Muslims and they are the most peaceful sect in Islam. No German, even the far rightists ever protest against them. As far as the cartoons are concerned, it is obviously outrageous for all Muslims. But the way out is what the Holy Quran says and the Holy Prophet (PBUH) himself preached throughout his life. Patience, prayer and discussion to convince the others. After all there is no compulsion in religion as per the Holy Quran.
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@paki christian, if you think abt it, Germany has every right to not allow Mosques, like Saudi Arabia (state policy) but they have no right to hurt feelings of people. Saudi Arabia doesnt make cartoon of pope.
And no offence, your comments are clearly very offensive and tells ur state of mind abt Islam.
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@Ahmed:
would muslims allow CHRISTIANS to build a church in MECCA.
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@patriot:
German court decided otherwise. Who are you to decide what hate speech is and what isn’t just because you don’t like it?
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@The Truth:
That’s exactly why free speech is protected so people can have difference of opinion whether you like it or not. All people have a right to exist in this world with right to their opinion, not just you.
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@Ahmed:
How many Muslims live in Vatican to need a mosque? Mosques are allowed in Italy which is comparable to Saudi Arabia as both are countries, unlike Vatican which is just a town comparable more to a town such as Mecca.
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@akshay, paki christian and other people who think they have a point here: the point is not what happens in saudia arabia. Who said that is the gold standard? Would we cite the gujrat riots to how hindus should be treated abroad? The point is that they do have the right to do what they want, hoowever its still hateful, so we will pass judgement? there is a dfference between spreading your religion and inciting hate, but you already know that, right?
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@Umer: The Germans also supported Nazis at a time, so were they right? Who am I? I am the one being effected by this hatred.. What if the court allows that killing Muslims is legal, like once killing Jews was?? Would you still agree to that?…. This whole activity just increases hatred in the world, which is already too much
@paki: It is ok if they make a law and don’t allow mosques… Muslims should then migrate out of the country (if they wish)… But hating us and ridiculing our prophet is not acceptable… whatever justification you give
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Wow…i see the “Tea Party”, aka: “racists, extremists, and haters” exist all around the world, not just USA.
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@Pathan:
Which belief exactly? Sunni, Shia or the countless other sects
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@unbeliever. How about a mosque or a synagogue in Vatican city?
And why is an anti-semetic comment or denial of the jewish holocaust are punishable offenses in Europe and not just “freedom of expression”. What Julian Assange did was the real freedom of information or expression, and look how ihe is being trapped by the Britishers in false cases.Recommend
@Ansari:
These suicide attacks are the ones causing so the hate in the first place. I am surprised you missed the whole point. Keep trying to kill others like this and see how much respect you will get in return.
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@Ahmed:
yes. once christians are allowed to build a cathedral next to the in mecca.
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@patriot:
“@paki: It is ok if they make a law and don’t allow mosques… Muslims should then migrate out of the country (if they wish)… But hating us and ridiculing our prophet is not acceptable… whatever justification you give”
What do you care if they hate you and ridicule your prophet after you (Muslims) have migrated out of the country? Isn’t that the whole idea behind “hating you and ridiculing you”, to get you to migrate? You bring nothing to the table, yet you insist that they must not hate you even if you go against the values they cherish! You cannot have it both ways. Show some ghairat. Migrate out of the West even if you have to starve!
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@Akshay, India
those far right people in india have killed minorities too mate..but i wont go to indian tribune and tell u that..Seriously something is wrong with you people…Recommend
@Ahmed and @unbeliever:
Would Muslims allow Non Muslims to even visit Mecca and Medina? Vatican Authorities do not stop Muslims or individuals practising any other religion visiting Vatican city. I speak from personal experience; I have been to Vatican city and inside St. Pauls three times,
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Some muslim brothers are comparing the prohibition of church/temple building in Saudi Arabia with that of Vatican city. Dude vatican city has NO SPACE for construction of any mosque/temple. Its size is smaller than Banaras Hindu University in India. Its smaller than Rome !!! Why you guys make silly comparisons!!! Grow up!!! Saudi is a BIGGG country. It builds mosques all over the world but don’t allow non-muslim structures of worship in their nation…Saudis are a bunch of hypocrites.
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@Pathan:
So what do you call Muslim that won’t befriend you or respect your religion unless you convert to their belief? Muslim? Infidel? Muslim infidel?
I see a number of those instances on today’s front page alone.
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Try carrying the swastika in germany and then we will see what freedom of expression means!
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Who appointed Pakis to be the “thekedars” of all Islamic followers?!!! They are not even native muslims and Islam is not their indigenous religion. So, what is their standing to speak for Islam anyway?
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@enlighten moderate:
Eg burning babari masjid, gujrat riots, killing Sikhs in golden temple, killing innocent Christians by burning their churches. Killing Muslims from Kashmir to assam.
Dealing with shoodars by barahmans etc. the list is huge. You want more?
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Is anybody allowed to for “freedom of speech” in germany regarding holocast? What is the punsihment for someone who thinks holocast was wrong? I dont see so called liberal around the world jumpng here to prove this extremism act was write to put any comments about it?
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@patriot:
What would say of the so much hatred and ridiculing of Hindus and Ahmedis taught even in government schools in Pakistan and to top it even Hindus and Ahmedis are forced to read these in schools. This is not a one time incidence and it has been going on for over 40 years. You preach hate for others, one day or other, you shall get it back and as others do not follow shahria law, they shall pay it with interest at a compounded rate.
I am not for displaying the cartoons but at the same time Muslims, particularly those in Pakistan, have no right to protest when they preach and practice hate for all others and there is so much killings between various sects of Islam.
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@Paki Chritian Don’t allow mosques in Germany, but don’t disrespect our Prophet, even we respect your Prophet Jesus Christ, we respect Moses. We believe a cartoon of any Prophet is a disrespect, no matter if the cartoon is of Muhammed, Jesus or Moses (Peace be upon them).
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@Pakistanee:
How about a mosque or a synagogue in Vatican city?
And why is an anti-semetic comment or denial of the jewish holocaust are punishable offenses in Europe and not just “freedom of expression”. What Julian Assange did was the real freedom of information or expression, and look how ihe is being trapped by the Britishers in false cases.
i am afraid you still did not answer my question, instead you are taking a circuitous route.
regarding holocoust denial being a punishable offence in these countries, has got a lot to do with their past, and they are not pakistan who would deny their wrongdoings, as in bangladesh, but they have made it a point that the successive generations learn to accept the mistake of their ancestors.
the question remains: WOULD MUSLIMS ALLOW church IN MECCA?
do answer, please.
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All the Muslims should leave Europe peacefully in protest. Recommend
So something like this hurts a lot of Muslims around the world and so should not be done? People should respect their belief? Is that the logic? What about beliefs of other religions? say for example Hinduism, where Cow is considered sacred and should not be killed/consumed? Would the entire Muslim population give up eating Beef because of that?
Can’t stand this hypocrisy any more..You guys say Ahmedhi’s should not use Quranic verses on their graves/on the walls of their worship place and that they have wrongfully borrowed and based their sect on your religion. The Christians can also claim the same about Islam because it has heavily borrowed from their religion with you guys claiming Jesus was a prophet sent by Allah before he sent Mohamed.
It’s high time you guys learn to deal and live with the rest of the world and not beat your chest saying it ‘My way or the Highway!’
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@Pakistanii: I wish you had got yourself some education. In Germany it’s a CRIME to deny that holocaust happened and you can be jailed for it.
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Thats why many Pakistani like Taliban
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“we respect your Prophet Jesus Christ”
every time you call jesus a prophet you “offend” the 2.18 billion Christians in the world. maybe christians will quit drawing pictures of your peophet when you quite calling their savior a prophet
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The more I read about such incidents the more I realise how misunderstood religion is and therefore how easily it is misused and sparks emotions leading to acts that all religions forbid. The need for understanding and tolerance is the need of the hour but religious and political vested interests keep the pot boiling, so the need to use common sense falls on the individual. Almost a Catch 22 situation.
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@paki christian: Dude you are unaware of the facts… do some research before you post
Its shame to make such things legal….. These people spread hate and cause terrorism…
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