"Muslim protesters infuriated by cartoons depicting the prophet Muhammad raised the diplomatic stakes last night as Iran's best-selling newspaper announced it would retaliate by running images satirising the Holocaust.
The decision by the rightwing Hamshari daily to launch an international competition to find the most suitable caricatures came as demonstrators hurled firebombs and stones at the Danish embassy in Tehran and the Iranian government imposed a formal trade ban on Danish imports. Last night mobs were attempting to storm the Danish compound."
From The Guardian Feb 7, 2005 http://www.guardian.co.uk/cartoonprotests/story/0,,1703925,00.html?gusrc=rss
Perhaps this is a good idea. Some tasteless cartoons from the other side might eventually trivialize the "free speech" part of the idea from the western side and provide a nonviolent outlet from the Muslim side. A few salvos of cartoons and we'll be thinking cable TV farting contests will look dignified by comparison, but maybe there will be no fatalities.
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