Drawing Mohammed

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4693292.stm

Last year, a popular Denmark newspaper company printed an issue containing cartoons that had been drawn, depicting the Islamic prophet Mohammed in series of different situations. These cartoons had both comical and political resemblances. The cartoons had been drawn after a Danish author made public his quest for an illustrator of his children’s book about Mohammed. This act, of showing the face of Mohammed is strictly forbidden in Muslim culture. The author had “complained” that he could find no illustrator, because everyone was afraid of breaking this Muslim rule. The cartoonists for the newspaper however showed little restraint. One of the main cartoons shows Mohammed in a police “line up” along with a few other men wearing turbans. Also in the cartoon is a witness saying “I don’t know which one he is.” The cartoonists used this image to send the message that drawings of the prophet should be considered “harmless gestures” since nobody should know what Mohammed looks like. The article in the link above hosts different opinions about these Danish cartoons. Some people, such as this Muslim critic claim that “Freedom of expression is not about doing whatever we want to do because we can do it.” Others claim that the cartoons are a sign of Western nations being more open and comfortable around the Islamic religion. Trying to put myself in the shoes of the Muslims who were angered by these cartoons would be pointless because (not being Muslim) I personally have no feelings of allegiance towards the rules of their religion. I do think it is fair to say however, that visual satires are made on a daily basis of different important figures around the globe, yet since the Islamic religion strictly prohibits showing the face of Mohammed, then why do it? Is it worth stirring up this much trouble?
BD