6 rules for (not) drawing the Prophet Muhammad
MTV.COM
By Kase Wickman
This weekend, news of yet another act of religiously charged violence on U.S. soil made headlines. On Saturday (May 2), two gunmen opened fire on a “Draw Muhammad” event in Garland, Texas. Both men were shot dead by police as they attacked a crowd of about 200 people toward the end of the event, an art contest sponsored by the American Freedom Defense Initiative, which, it should be noted, has been classified as a hate group. The question isn’t whether the two suspects were in the wrong in attacking the event. (They were.) But how can the thought of drawing a cartoon be potential grounds for extremist violence? MTV News spoke with Edgar Hopida, communications director for the Islamic Society of North America to find out. [link]
By Kase Wickman
This weekend, news of yet another act of religiously charged violence on U.S. soil made headlines. On Saturday (May 2), two gunmen opened fire on a “Draw Muhammad” event in Garland, Texas. Both men were shot dead by police as they attacked a crowd of about 200 people toward the end of the event, an art contest sponsored by the American Freedom Defense Initiative, which, it should be noted, has been classified as a hate group. The question isn’t whether the two suspects were in the wrong in attacking the event. (They were.) But how can the thought of drawing a cartoon be potential grounds for extremist violence? MTV News spoke with Edgar Hopida, communications director for the Islamic Society of North America to find out. [link]
- Islam prohibits renderings of God, the Prophet Muhammad and other prophets.
- Yes, Islam still has art.
- There have been periods in history where a veiled Muhammad has been depicted.
- Yes, freedom of speech means the contest was legal…
- …but that doesn’t mean it was respectful.
- The best course of action: turn the other cheek.
