IFPS prints 1,000 copies of Kurt Westergaard’s famous Mohammed cartoon to raise money for free speech
Jyllands-Posten
April 2, 2009
Westergaard Signs up for Free Speech
1000 reprints of Muhammad with the bomb put up for sale
By Anders Raahauge
(COPENHAGEN, April 2, 2009) The by far most famous of the 12 Danish Muhammad cartoons, Kurt Westergaard’s prophet with a bomb in his turban, has been reprinted to raise money for the international fight for free speech.
One thousand individually numbered and signed copies of the “Big Mo” cartoon will be sold for US $ 250 a piece. The proceeds will go to the International Free Press Society.
Printers declined
As an ironic twist it immediately became clear why it is necessary to strike a blow for free speech as it proved impossible to find a Danish printer who would take on the job. The Danish chapter of the International Free Press Society was forced to have the work done abroad as no Danish printer would touch it.
After asking six printers the Danish Free Press Society (TFS) gave up. A local printer let it be known that it was futile to continue the search for a willing printer as the rumor of what the TFS was up to had already spread.
Says President of the Free Press Society Lars Hedegaard: “The printer told us that Danish print shops talk among themselves.”
“This shows us that our name is well chosen. By republishing Kurt Westergaard’s cartoon we intend to strike a blow at a level where free speech is actually threatened. And that is not at the level of the law.”
“Freedom of expression is protected under our constitution and no politician intends to change that. So the enemies of free speech are not demanding a constitutional amendment but operate at a more dangerous and effective level, i.e. by intimidating the private sphere.”
“Formal freedom is worthless when actual freedom is under pressure and when one’s right to disseminate information or opinions is non-existent.”
Will approach politicians
Lars Hedegaard fears that there may come a time when printers will be too scared to print certain books. Or when internet providers will close down certain websites.
“The problem is that in such cases one cannot appeal to the courts. It is not illegal for printers or internet providers to claim that they are too frightened to take on certain jobs.”
“I will now ask our politicians what they intend to do to make sure that our constitutionally guaranteed right of free speech can be exercised in the real world. A right that people dare not or cannot exercise is worth nothing.”
Order through website
Lars Hedegaard dismisses the notion that the International Free Press Society is simply trying to stir up trouble in a situation where the original cartoon crisis seemed to have abated.
“No. It doesn’t concern us in the least whether imam Abdul Wahid Pedersen [one of the ringleaders of the Muslim rage in Denmark, ed.] has calmed down or not. We are doing this to generate funds for our struggle. Neither the Danish nor the International Free Press Society gets any public funding. In a few days cartoon can be ordered through our Danish and international websites.”
The artist Kurt Westergaard is amazed at his creation’s strange and unruly life.
“In reality it is out of my control and leads its own life around the world, where I notice that it raises its head time and again. Now at least I have a chance to be in on the process.”
Lack of support
“Other players use the cartoon to play political games both at home and abroad. Turkey, for example, is now using it to try to prevent Prime Minster Anders Fogh Rasmussen from becoming Secretary General of NATO.”
“I’m disappointed that I get practically no support from my own class – from the intellectual and creative segment. This segment has several institutions here in Aarhus [where Westergaard lives and Jyllands-Posten is published, ed.], but they haven’t said a word.”
Like the Free Press Society Kurt Westergaard hasn’t given a thought to the eventuality that the republication of his cartoon may stir up trouble.
“I simply don’t have the mindset to crawl into a mouse hole. I have to live with fear, but I must insist on my right to do as I please.”
Comments
By Christoph Freitag on April 4th, 2009 at 3:51 am
I will buy one! This is a great idea! Where can I get one of these?!
By nasrin amirsedghi on April 4th, 2009 at 4:53 am
an excellent idea!
Best Regards!
nasrin amirsedghi
Mainz/Germany
By Susan Hernandez on April 8th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
Great idea – but I think you’ve greatly underestimated demand – I bet that thousand sells out very quickly. $250 to support freedom of speech in the face of threats of death and violence – it’s a bargain.
By Omar Salem on April 8th, 2009 at 11:20 pm
I understand that raising money for free speech is very important, and I support it. The question that I have in my mind, why would somebody want to raise emoney with a very controversial item. An item that 100′s of million of free speech seekers find very offensive. How about a naked drawing of the queen Elizabeth of the UK, would that satisfy the appetite of free speech supporters. I myself found that very offensive to the queen any queen even the Denmark, and it will spark anger throughout the UK and beyond. I hope some of you understand my point.
By Josh Steinberg on January 2nd, 2010 at 1:40 pm
these make great holiday gifts. i will get one for my muslim neighbor and his cousin mohammed
By Pat Galbraith on January 5th, 2010 at 8:25 am
Have you noticed that those with the weakest foundations also have the thinnest hides?
Trackbacks