Dutch anti-Islam politician revives controversial ‘draw Muhammad’ cartoon contest
Many Muslims consider images of prophet idolatrous
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Dutch anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders has revived a controversial competition to draw cartoons caricaturing Islam’s Prophet Muhammad.
“Freedom of speech must prevail over violence and Islamic fatwas,” he tweeted on Saturday night, as he called on people to send in their Muhammad cartoons.
On Sunday morning, he said international attention of the contest had allowed him to make a point about the importance of freedom of speech.
“Mission accomplished. End of contest”, he wrote in a caption for a picture of what he said was the winning drawing, depicting an angry-looking man with a beard dressed in black.
Many Muslims consider images of Muhammad to be idolatrous and caricatures depicting him have provoked violent responses.
In August last year, the leader of the Party for Freedom (PVV) cancelled the event after police arrested a man who threatened to kill him over his plan, saying he was concerned other people could be put at risk.
At the time, the plans had prompted angry demonstrations in Pakistan organised by Islamist party Tehreek-e-Labbaik, which called on Islamist countries to sever all ties with the Netherlands.
In 2005, Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten provoked demonstrations across the Muslim world, as well as several attempts to kill either its editor or cartoonist Kurt Westergaard, by publishing several cartoons of Muhammad, including one depicting the prophet with a bomb in his turban.
Four years ago, a pair of Islamist gunmen killed 12 people at the offices of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris, which had published satirical cartoons of the prophet.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments