MADRID:
Spanish political satire magazine El Jueves has published a cartoon of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) on its cover, soon after violent protests rocked the Muslim world over a US film and French caricatures deemed insulting to Islam.
El Jueves’ latest edition, which hit Spanish newsstands on Wednesday, shows several Muslims in a police line-up.
Any depiction of the prophet is considered blasphemous by Muslims but the issue has also caused a debate in the West about censorship and freedom of speech.
The magazine declined to comment to Reuters on Thursday on the motives for the publication. But in comments to the Huffington Post, editor Mayte Quilez said it was a decision to take a humorous position on a contentious issue.
Last week, French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo published cartoons of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) soon after protests against a film made in the United States provoked a torrent of anti-American unrest in Pakistan, Egypt, Libya and other countries.
The Spanish Embassy sent a message to its citizens in Egypt asking for caution in the event of any backlash from the El Jueves cartoon but has not said whether it will step up security in other Arab countries.
“We’re still analysing what steps to take,” a foreign ministry source said.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 28th, 2012.
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the more you get irritated, the more people do things to irritate you, has worked always.
ouch