Danish Embassy in Beirut torched as well
*Excuse the lack of commentary as the writer is currently repeatedly smacking his head to his desk because apparently the Danish Embassy in Beirut has just been torched*
Lebanese demonstrators have set the building housing the Danish consulate in Beirut on fire to protest against the publication by European newspapers of cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad.
Reuters reported a cloud of black smoke was billowing from the site on Sunday, while AFP said angry crowds rampaged through a Christian neighbourhood of Beirut. Lebanese security forces earlier fired tear gas at the crowd of about 20,000 marching towards the Danish mission.
Secterianism naturally reared its ugly head.
The trouble in Lebanon threatened to take a sectarian spin as protesters stoned the nearby St. Maroun Church, one of the city's main Maronite Catholic churches, and private property in Ashrafieh, a Christian area near Beirut's commercial district. Muslim clerics were seen trying to stop the protesters.
The demonstrators also attacked policemen with stones and set fire to several fire engines, witnesses said. Black smoke was seen billowing from the area. They also burned Danish flags.
posted by The Sandmonkey @ 2/05/2006 03:30:00 AM
28 Comments:
*gives some aspirine in case the blogger will get a headache*
I've got a bit the same feeling. While I understand that people are offended, I defintely do not understand the violent approaches in their protests. The reason WHY they are offended is still not quite clear to me. I wonder that if the cartoon with Mohamed and his explosive on his head would have been called Ahmed, it would have been accepted?
But also, as a Danish blogger (http://bibelen.blogspot.com/) pointed out:
"If terrorism is an insult against Islam, why don't you fight terrorism instead of getting mad with a Danish artist, whose only crime is that he's pointing out your ostrich-like denial. Don't kill the messenger."
I feel the need to write about it on my own blog, but I do not even know where to start. I would like to understand better the outrageous reactions, but I seem not to be able to. As a non-muslim I don't feel wise enough to comment the "feeling offended" issue. All I can do is condemning the violent reactions, I believe.
It would seem as if all the money that Lebanon has spent on advertising for itself on CNN, as a place to spend your holiday, has been wasted…..Sad but true….I feel really sad for all the ‘moderate muslims’ who are isolated by the fanatics taking the political discourse…..
Just saw live coverage of this, along with an interview, on Fox News.
(CNN is talking about prostitution in mexico!)
The consulate is still on fire, and it's been burning for at least 2 hours. I guess it's been destroyed, at this point.
The woman they were interviewing said there was heavy gunfire in the Christian neighborhood for about 20 minutes, and there still is sporadic gunfire. She didn't say "riot" but it sure as hell sounds like rioting to me!
It's over, man. I see moslems coming to your blog and basically calling you a traitor, and at the same time they say that we (the other 5 billion people on earth) shouldn't blame all moslems for what "a few" do. What "few" are they talking about!?
I have a really bad feeling about what's coming in the next year or two.
Denmark is supposed to be a decent democratic first world nation whose people, politicians, and publishers are intelligent and educated. Do you think that slandering and hurting others in the name of democracy and freedom of speech is a decent thing to do?
Remember the Emperor with the new clothes?
And, just for the record...
is saying something against the Jews an offence in the developed world?
Wow... I think somebody on Fox is about to be unemployed :O
I won't say who though because it's Sunday and maybe nobody noticed!
One of the others couldn't even bring herself to say "moslems" just now.
She said something like "It just seems we're so afraid to offend mmmm... it just seems like there's a double standard here, I mean why should we be so concerned about offending.... them..."
She's afraid to say something that might be offensive, because she's afraid something she says might get somebody killed. At the same time she's trying to complain about the violence. But she can't identify who is responsible for the violence, because they might become more violent.
Moslems are even destroying America's Freedom of Expression. The backlash from this, when it comes, is going to be devastating.
Ohyes, bring up Jews again.
Looks like an obsession to me.
Hrights: It's a goddamn cartoon. a cartoon. They are blowing up churches, torching embassies and advocating the murder and the assault of innocent people over a cartoon. Are you getting this?
As for the jews thing, well just read this: http://egyptiansandmonkey.blogspot.com/2006/02/holocaust-thing.html
I am glad I wrote this. I knew i would be using it fairly quickly. I just didn;t think it would be that quick!
Hey there, mr hrights (human rights) whose blog is called:
Human Rights & Freedom of Speech & Human Decency
Apparrently, you haven't actually read the Universal Declartion of Human Rights.
Here's a link for your perusal:
http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html
And a quote that you might find somewhat educational, considering you specifically mention Freedom of Speech in your blog title:
Article 19.
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
I see you also include the word "decency" in your blog title. Perhaps that explains your confusion. Decency is not a human right. Freedom of Expression IS.
If you REALLY believe in Human Rights, you've got to switch positions on this. Because you're on the wrong side. I suppose like many self-proclaimed "Human Rights" activists, though, you actually just like to patronize disadvataged people so that you feel better about yourself, eh?
Sorry for the insulting language. I know that wasn't decent of me. I'm kind of taken aback by somebody who has a blog about Human Rights who doesn't believe in human rights.
I like the way they added "they also burned Danish flags" to the end; makes it sound ritualistic!
sad..
Wow... they got a 2 for 1 deal. Same building was also the Austrian consulate. Both torched and looted.
This controversy suddenly makes complete sense to me.
What are we actually seeing?
We're watching a bunch of aquavit soaked, alcoholic, cigar fuming, cologne stinking, drunken journalist jerks enraging street mobs of fanatical, religiously demented, sexually crippled tribal nitwits.
Really edifying. The modern world at its level best
To Hrights: well I’m Danish guy and I didn’t hurt or insult anyone, actually I have provided a very clear apology for the cartoons, which most Danes find disrespectful too. So why are you saying that the Danish people are responsible for insulting and hurting Moslems because of what a small independent newspaper prints? By your analogy then Moslems are all linked to terrorist killing people in the name of Allah? Is that really what you are saying; is it really this generalization that you want to make?
Please more understanding of pluralism and respect for other individuals
Dear Hrights.
The independent newspaper have apologized again and again. They had no intentions to hurt anyone, but they did and they apologize.
It can be read on their homepage in danish, english and arabic. The danish moslem community, who demanded the apology have accepted it.
It was not Denmark or the danes that printed the cartoons. It was a newspaper.
I am curious now. What would make you satisfied? From your letter I understand that apologies are not enough.
Scandinavian
Dear Sandmonkey
I just read a comment by Hassan Hanizadeh, editor at the Tehran Times. In a Danish newspaper, he is quoted as having said. (My own translation of Danish to English) “The bond between Islam and Christianity will undermine the Zionist fanatics attempt to create a feud between our two religions. Behind this complot to create hatred between Moslems and Christians, we should look for the hand of the Zionist, especially when it comes to influencing the Scandinavian media.” So it was the Jews all along......Thank you Tehran Times, you have surely enlightened me and your professional standards surely impresses us all.
Dear Hrights.
It was an independent newspaper that published the cartoons. They didn't mean to hurt anyone, but they did and they have apologized in danish, english and arabic. The danish moslem community who demanded the apology have accepted the apology.
It was not Denmark or the danes. It was a newspaper.
So now I am curious. What will satisfy you as a human rights defender? I understand from your posting that an apology is not enough.
Scandinavian
I found this one on another blog (perhaps one of the Danes overhere can confirm this quote?):
"Asking me whether I regret publishing the cartoons is like asking a rape victim if she regrets wearing a short skirt Friday night at the discotheque."
Flemming Rose, Jyllands-Posten's culture editor
Yes Suzanne. He did, which is probably the same lame thoughts and Idea's that lead him to post the cartoons in the first place...
Jon, lame thoughts and ideas? Should he be killed for them? Is that what we've come to- appeasement?
The cartoons pointed out the violent tendencies in Islam. And how prophetic they were! Do you honestly think we'll be safe if we just try to keep from offending Muslim sensibilities? You think it'd be better to suppress peoples' thoughts and opinions. The problem of Islamist violence as evidenced in Europe in the French intifada and the ME in general, in Thailand between Muslims and BUDDHISTS and the Phillipines and everywhere else isn't going to go away if we bury our heads in the ground.
Hmm, they boycott our cheese, butter and Lego. Not good for Arla or Lego..
Now Iraq has annulled Danish contracts and are not willing to accept Danish aid. (Money).
Syria burns down our embassy. (Do they want our money?)
Lybia burns down our embassy. (Do they want our money?)
If this thing spreads it might look as we the Danes are actually making a profit here.
Less foreign aid - a big plus.
Less sold butter and Lego - a minor minus.
Money in the pocket...
Are they actually doing us a favour?
By the way Arla is not that popular here in Denmark because of some minor competitive hiccups.
I have always taken a pride in being an openminded and tolerant European. Now, sadly, I can only repeat the words of someone from a blog somewhere:
"The only lesson I've learnt in this past week is:
The religion of Islam is GOOD
Freedom of speech is EVIL
The representatives of Islam are EVIL
The representatives of Freedom of speech are GOOD"
My mind is starting to close!
Four Hundred Christians are killed each day for their beliefs, and by whom? You guessed it - Muslims. Where is the outrage - there is none. Maybe if anything, this is a wake-up call to Europe and the West, that we better start standing up and fighting for what we fought hard and died for - our freedom. I'm certianly not for killing anyone, but lying down and taking it has got to stop - our war veterans would roll over in their graves if they had to witness what wussies-with-no-backbones we have become.
jasmine please be careful
come back home to America
I really think Syria is behind the torching of the 3 embassies.
To quote my own blog:
"I really don't think it was a coincidence that two embassies can be allowed to burn in Syria, and the third one would be torched by its followers in Lebanon. This was the perfect opportunity for Syria to dispel the gathering public opinion against itself, while at the same time rally Arab muslim public opinion against a threatening foreign enemy: European countries whose press allowed the publication of offensive cartoons, however stupid this sounds.
How twisted can a dictator be?"
So Iran is blaming this whole thing on the Zionists!? Let's hope Israel takes out those underground nuclear sites before it's too late!
Excuse me, but when people say "the prophet", are they then referring to "Mohammed"??? I am offended, that people in the international press has started to just say "the prophet"! What happened to Jesus! Is our prophet now suddenly Mohammed???
anon, we don't even use the word "prophet" and our guy is better than a prophet anyway, he's the messiah!
But you raise a good point! Isn't it disrespectful for moslems to call Jesus a prophet, when he's actually the messiah? So many problems, once we start demanding everyone else in the world respects oor own religious beliefs, no? Luckily, that's what freedom of religion is for. For those who are permitted freedom of religion, at least.
Does anybody still think Denmark is the capital of Ikea? No, there you go! .. Something good did come out of this after all.
Just discovered this blog.
This is the first time I see some intelligence out there!
I am Lebanese and was shocked by yesterdays rioting.
Just for your info: The embassy was not harmed, because it had fireproof doors. The only damage was the complete destruction of two advertising agencies, a local bank and mostly cars and shops that belong to the innocent residents of Achrafieh.
And as I hope you all heard; over 300 criminals were arrested; half of the arrested were a mixture of Syrians, Palestinians and Arabs (Bedouins).
This happened in a Christian area, and I was relieved to see that the residents had remained calm and had not gone down to the streets to confront the hordes.
Hiram
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