Danish drawings

Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic


   Hi Servetus, I am far from qualified to answer this question.
I don't know what the US first amendment is (might have an idea, but would have to google), how Danish law compares to anything what the Germans has, I'm cluesless.
In Denmark there is a hardly ever used blasphemi paragraph (I mean last used 1938 and then some time in the 1960's). There is a stronger "racist paragraph" used more commenly. This one treats religious rights, racial right, national right, right based on sexual preference, and most likely others, equally.
What is very clear to me though. Is that the Danish newspaper was well within its right to publish the drawings. For better or for worse. The insult/threat would have to be much closer to a deaththreat to some group of people to be punishable by law.
Let me also point out that Danish prosecution, are, by law not permitted to bring a case to court. If they are not confident it will lead to a conviction. I don't know how that rule applies to other countries. Basically, a Danish prosecutor cannot bring to court, a case he might be intertested to hear the views of the court on. 
I do not know the detail differences between Danish and Swedish law. I believe Swedish law has got a similar racist paragraph. There is currently a case where a Swedish fundmental priest, in a cermon said:
Homosexuals are a cancer tumour on society.
In the first lower court the priests got a sentence. In the second court he was set free. Case has yet to be decided in the highest Swedish court. 
Two things here. Religious people are allowed to say what newspapers cannot print. A newspaper, radio station would never be able to print this. Theyt surely would have been convicted. Second thing to note that a priest might get away, claiming this was founded on holy scriptures.
Second thing to note, in order to become a legal issue. The opioning expressed goes far beyond the opionions expressed by the drawings. 
------------------------------------------------------------ -
"Since there is a war against extremists, both physically as well as academically, any opportunity through which they can "win" the feeling of masses through emotioanl incitation, they would not let it slip away."
AhmanJoyia, you cannot underestimate the emitional reaction that extremist might bring. Mark clearly stated this in his post. From any casual person in the west, with no or little interest in the Muslim world. Then Muslim inspired terrorism, flag or embassy burnings, are horrifying. Acts of violence must be unconditionally condemned. At any time at any place.  Muslims cannot defend themself against acts of violence with any other means then to condemn them. Danes cannot defend themself against acts of insults without condeming them.
My wife and me sit and watch TV news. We see Muslims burn Danish flag, we see Muslim burn Danish embassy. We sit there in silence.
Suddenly my wife says: "I hate all Muslims"
I say you can't hate all Muslims. All Muslims don't burn Danish flags. Muslims are people just like you and me.
Wife sits quit.
Then she says "Well, you are happy, you don't have to take the train to work."
Maybe I will be able to convince my wife she is wrong. But she does bring up a couple of valid points. Nobody is safe from terror anywhere. And the emotions stirred from that should never ever be underestimated. These emotions cannot be dismissed. These emotions must be taken seriously. These emotions fuels conflict.
I understand that you can do about as little,  as I can do about my lunatics. Virtually nothing but condem. Is there anything else I can do?
 
 
Edited by Wrangel