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Cartoon reaction is not acceptable Editorial, The Canberra Times, 9 Feb 2006 THE deadly and frenzied reaction to the publication by a small number of newspapers and other publications of a dozen illustrations depicting the Prophet Muhammad as a terrorist has shocked a world-wide audience. The protests, which have resulted in several people being killed, many more injured, death threats being issued, extensive property destroyed and damaged, are over the top. In anyone's language the strength of protests, the hatred and the intolerance are to be condemned. They are disgraceful. The actions of a fanatical minority who, in the name of Islam, threaten, and indeed commit, acts of violence against those who seemingly question their faith have served to harden the stereotype that Muslims too freely adopt violence as a way of expressing themselves. Of course this is not true of the majority of Muslims, who have acknowledged that the wave of violence that has followed the cartoons' publications does not, in any way, represent their stand. Jihad Momani, who was sacked as editor after republishing three of the cartoons in his Jordanian newspaper Al Shihan, reflects on the actions of the fanatics: ''Muslims of the world: be reasonable. What brings more prejudice against Islam, these caricatures, or pictures of a hostage- taker slashing the throat of his victim in front of the cameras?'' Indeed, the demonstrations outside Danish embassies, where calls were made to massacre those who insult Islam, could not have done more to add fuel to any phobia held against Islam. Islamic tradition forbids any depiction of the religion's holiest figure. It was therefore clear that the original publication, dating back to last September, of the cartoons of Prophet Muhammad would have been viewed by Muslims as blasphemy. They should not have been published. The Canberra Times has decided not to republish the cartoons. It could be argued that to do so would be to inform our readers of what was the catalyst of this world- wide over-reaction. They may well hold curiosity value and beg the question: What's all the fuss about? We will not publish as a demonstration of freedom of speech. Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd is right. Australia is a free country that should not be stood over by any group, including militant Islamists. Our decision not to publish is not out of fear of a reprisal, but rather out of a sense of responsibility that comes with free speech. We do not exercise that freedom to be gratuitous, and by doing so possibly place people's lives at risk. The offending cartoons were drawn at the invitation of the Danish broadsheet Jyllands-Posten and were first published on September 30. The newspaper has since apologised, its editor Carsten Juste saying he would not have published the cartoons had he known that boycotts would be placed against Denmark and that Danish lives would have been placed at risk. The cartoons were a mistake not to be duplicated for some ill-conceived belief that we'd be exercising our strongly held right of free speech. However, the reaction to their publication exceeds any normal boundaries of reason.