NOW IT'S A SCANDINAVIAN CARTOON. The Swedish newspaper Nerikes Allehanda has gotten into trouble with the Muslim community for printing a cartoon that Muslims find offensive. The cartoon causing the fuss is the below in the upper right hand corner--all three appear on the website of the person who drew them, Lars Vilks.


According to the San Francisco Chronicle, it seems that this time around, the freedom of the press may be protected. (Only time will tell):

The Local, an English-language newspaper based in Sweden, reports that "[Swedish diplomat in Islamabad, Lennart] Holst said the Swedish government 'fully shared the views of the Muslim community' and called the publication [of the Vilks cartoon] on August 18 'unfortunate.'" However, a spokeswoman for Sweden's own foreign ministry told the Local that "it had been a 'misunderstanding' on the part of the Pakistanis to conclude that the government fully shared the views of the Muslim community." Noting that Holst had told Pakistan's foreign ministry "that freedom of the press is strongly protected in the Swedish constitution," the spokeswoman for Sweden's foreign ministry added: "Otherwise the Swedish government has no opinion on the matter...."

Ulf Johansson, the editor of Nerikes Allehanda, told the Local "that it would be 'strange' if [Holst] had apologized over the cartoon and would contradict the Swedish government's previous line of not interfering with press freedom." Johansson said: "We have noted this and contacted the Swedish Foreign Ministry for an explanation....The most important thing for me is our relations with the local community here. I am less interested in what foreign governments have to say." [emphasis in the original article]

The newspaper itself seems to be sticking to its guns:

Dagens Nyheter said in an editorial Sweden "has a duty from now on to defend its principles and present an open dialogue."

It said offended Muslims would not receive the apologies they are asking for.

Vilks is not going to apologize either--and is quoted as insisting on the right to criticize religion. Apparently, he has in the past drawn a picture of a 'Jewish sow.'

I thought this was interesting:

Svenska Dagbladet, another broadsheet, said Sweden was now in a situation "which could escalate and slip away from Swedish control".

Some observers did, however, note important differences with Denmark, where the publication of cartoons deemed offensive two years ago caused deadly riots in several countries.

Unlike its Danish neighbor, Sweden has a reputation for taking in refugees and immigrants, the paper said. Sweden is the primary destination in Europe for asylum-seeking Iraqis, who are the second-largest immigrant community there.

The article seems to imply this is a reason to expect less trouble. We'll soon see if that logic holds.

At The Corner, Paul Marshall has more on the Muslim reaction to the cartoons.

[Hat tip: Hot Air]

Technorati Tag: Lars Vilks and Nerikes Allehanda and Mohammed Cartoon.