| Submit your comments on this article | |||
| Europe | |||
| 20 Muslim ambassadors demand that Sweden change its laws - or else | |||
| 2007-09-06 | |||
| They have a list. Ambassadors from Muslim countries have indicated that they intend to present the Swedish prime minister with a list of demands when they meet for talks on Friday. "Listen to our demands, infidel! Fredrik Reinfeldt invited the ambassadors from 20 Muslim countries to government offices on Friday following a wave of protests from Muslim countries after the publication of a caricature of Muhammad in local newspaper Nerikes Allehanda. Reinfeldt's press secretary Oscar Hållén was unable to say which countries had confirmed their attendance.
Or else. According to Sotouhi, "comprehensive measures" were required if Sweden was to prevent some "amateur artist" from reawakening tensions every other month. "We want to see action, not just nice words. We have to push for a change in the law," he said. "Muslims need legal protection against the desecration of the Prophet Muhammad, maybe something similar to the protection enjoyed by Jews and homosexuals." While praising the "very constructive steps" taken by Fredrik Reinfeldt, the Egyptian ambassador said that Sweden had much work left to do. "In the long term the school curriculum has to convince pupils that if they want to express their opinion they should do so in such a way that it doesn't cause offence or hurt. This should also be part of journalism training," said Sotouhi. "A permanent parliamentary committee also needs to be established to tackle islamophobia," he added. The ambassador urged Reinfeldt to strive towards "reaching a balance between freedom of speech and taking responsibility to avoid offending Muslims or other religious groups in this society".
Sotouhi described Sweden as a sophisticated country containing talented and creative diplomats. "They know that proactive measures are necessary and we are ready to cooperate with them," he said. Algeria's ambassador to Sweden, Merzak Bedjaoui, said the meeting "was an excellent initiative taken in a spirit of appeasement." "Appease us, kuff'r!" "At our level, we are trying to work hand in hand with Swedish authorities to try to create a real bridge between our communities," he said. "When we speak of a dialogue between civilisations, it can't just be a catchy slogan. I think that the publication of this kind of caricature doesn't help at all," he said. Earlier in the day the Oscar Hållén said that the meeting would form "part of our dialogue with these countries." "We want to emphasize the fact that Muslims and Christians live side by side in Sweden in a spirit of mutual respect," he said.
Cutting your defense budget again, and again, while mothballing your largest naval vessel doesn't help, Sven | |||
| Posted by:mrp |
| #23 In diplomacy, there are quid pro quos for everything. In this case, the Swedes should draw up a list of "mutual respect" issues that must be agreed to by all parties. Religious freedom all the way around, with other religions being exempt from Sharia or any other religious law in all nations. And any adult who does not wish to abide by a religion's law or any religion's law, is free to do so without punishment. A prohibition against publishing any anti-religious statement or illustration, including in school textbooks. A prohibition against public declarations calling for violence against a religion or a nation because of its religion. The abolition of forced religious conversion, and so much as a threat against anyone who seeks to leave a religion, join a different religion, or have no religion at all. The abolition of any form of involuntary servitude. That such laws are not just passive, but must be actively enforced by all signatories. Quid Pro Quo. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2007-09-06 23:28 |
| #22 Here's another idea: Tell all these Muslim ambassadors that this particular and absurd request has caused each of them to score "one point". Make it clear that there are a distinctly limited number of points that they can accumulate by making such unreasonable demands upon a free society. Conclude the presentation by informing them that once their demands exceed a certain arbitrary number—let's say 50 or 100—then something gets broken in their country, usually a very large and expensive item like a bridge or freeway interchange. Finish things up by reminding them that they have all scored one point each and that any protests will win them an extra five bonus points on the spot. This same program should be used by Israel for whenever the Palestinians suggest trading a video of Shalit for the release of hundreds of prisoners. "Trade a short video tape for the release of hundreds of terrorists? Ooooh ... that wins you a point!" |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-09-06 23:04 |
| #21 I suppose its not such a bad thing to have an enemy that can be made to howl in pain by a clever cartoon. Which is why I say, "More cartoons!" Keep Islam in a perpetual state of "paroxysmal apoplexy through cartoon war!" (I like that description, A LOT!). |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-09-06 22:50 |
| #20 On the plus side, I suppose its not such a bad thing to have an enemy that can be made to howl in pain by a clever cartoon. We've had tougher people to deal with, and did just fine. |
| Posted by: Beau 2007-09-06 22:35 |
| #19 It would be nice if the swedes brought up the bits about christians being the offspring of dogs, and the jews the progeny of apes and pigs. Seriously, tell these guys to piss off and get their own houses in order. |
| Posted by: Free Radical 2007-09-06 22:08 |
| #18 The Palestinian Christians are doing just fine as far as I'm aware, McZoid. Quite a few of them settled in the U. S and quickly became quite prosperous, solid citizens. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2007-09-06 21:31 |
| #17 Meanwhile, what do we do about persecuted Copts in Egypt and the 2,000,000 Christians who have been pushed out of Palestine since the late 'forties? |
| Posted by: McZoid 2007-09-06 21:19 |
| #16 After a moment of silence for the nation of Sweden, may I laugh ? |
| Posted by: wxjames 2007-09-06 20:33 |
| #15 Muzzie paroxysmal apoplexy through cartoon war! (Wish they reacted similarly like Martians in Mars Attack) |
| Posted by: twobyfour 2007-09-06 20:32 |
| #14 Listen to what they have to say then PNG them. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2007-09-06 20:13 |
| #13 Did he really compare moslems to jews and homosexuals? You caught that too, flash91? I think rather he was pointing out that the Master Religion should at least get the same privileges as the two groups he sees as Untermenschen. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2007-09-06 19:14 |
| #12 The Swedes should graciously agree to convene a session at the cathedral in Tunis, or the synagogue in Medina, perhaps the Meeting House in Tripoli, maybe the church in Rabat . . . and so on until they find a suitable meeting place. And then they can discuss the shape of the table - perhaps in the shape of a "t", or six-pointed, or whatever. . . |
| Posted by: Ebbeting the Anonymous9645 2007-09-06 18:50 |
| #11 Mozzies and "mutual respect'? They know how to reciprocate without observing the Golden Rule of Man? |
| Posted by: Duh! 2007-09-06 17:41 |
| #10 Why doesn't the west present muslim countries with one demand: Stop all negative references to Jews in all Arab media I'd love to see their response |
| Posted by: PlanetDan 2007-09-06 17:33 |
| #9 "According to Sotouhi, "comprehensive measures" were required if Sweden was to prevent some "amateur artist" from reawakening tensions every other month. "We want to see action, not just nice words. We have to push for a change in the law," he said. "Muslims need legal protection against the desecration of the Prophet Muhammad, maybe something similar to the protection enjoyed by Jews and homosexuals."" Did he really compare moslems to jews and homosexuals? It does seem to me that they are making requests to prevent action by others (amateur artists). If they don't control the amateurs then they are being deceitful. If they do control the amateurs then they are complicit in criminal activity. In either case, the request is blackmail and actionable by jail time. |
| Posted by: flash91 2007-09-06 17:32 |
| #8 Yep. I'd boot the lot. All twenty, right back home just as fast as I could stuff 'em onto planes. |
| Posted by: mojo 2007-09-06 16:56 |
| #7 They'd have brought less agony upon themselves if they capped all 20 ambassadors. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-09-06 16:30 |
| #6 Sotouhi described Sweden as a sophisticated country containing talented and creative diplomats. "They know that proactive measures are necessary and we are ready to cooperate with them," he said. So I guess we know who's bringing the Vaseline... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2007-09-06 16:27 |
| #5 Has Sweden Caved? Another Middle Eastern news agency reports that Sweden has apologized for the Modoggies. This time itÂ’s SANA, the Syrian news service: Sweden Apologizes for Newspapers Offending Muslims Swedish Ambassador in Damascus Catharina Mempel Kipp conveyed on Wednesday her countryÂ’s apology for drawings printed recently in Swedish newspapers that depict the Prophet Mohammad in an offensive manner. Kipp expressed her respect to Islam and Muslims in general and the Syrian people in particular. |
| Posted by: SR-71 2007-09-06 16:23 |
| #4 I would say that, First: They shave their beards Second: Eat Bacon Third: Stop dressing their women like piles of dirty laundry. Then, we might consider their request. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2007-09-06 16:11 |
| #3 Once all twenty are assembled in the same room, they should be flipped the collective bird and told that any further demands will see direct cuts in any foreign aid to the countries they represent and Sweden's alignment with UN groups seeking to censure their respective countries. According to Sotouhi, "comprehensive measures" were required if Sweden was to prevent some "amateur artist" from reawakening tensions every other month. "We want to see action, not just nice words. We have to push for a change in the law," he said. We need more cartoons! Every day of every week, more cartoons, until either Islam implodes or they finally grow a skin. This is merely the thin edge of an even bigger wedge and the demands will never stop. It's long past tea to begin clearing the top ranks of Islam. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-09-06 16:06 |
| #2 Betting pool on how quickly the Swedes cave? I'm in for less than a week. |
| Posted by: Squinty Omese5456 2007-09-06 16:02 |
| #1 Not a good sign. Not good at all. |
| Posted by: Dave D. 2007-09-06 15:57 |