MediaGuardian.co.uk | Media | Cartoon row spreads across Europe

MediaGuardian.co.uk

Two leading German newspapers and one of France 's biggest dailies today reprinted the cartoons of the prophet Muhammad that have sparked furore across the Middle East. The 12 drawings were first printed in the Danish daily Jyllands-Posten in September, sparking protests by Muslims against Denmark in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and other countries in the region. The offices of the newspaper were evacuated last night following a bomb threat - a day after the editor in chief apologised to the Muslim world for publishing the cartoons. Islam forbids the human representation of the prophet. Many Muslims were also angry that some of the cartoons appeared to ridicule Muhammad. Die Welt printed on its front page today the drawing of the prophet wearing a turban with a bomb about to explode. "Democracy is the institutionalised form of freedom of expression. There is no right to protection from satire in the west; there is a right to blasphemy" the paper said in an accompanying comment piece. The Berliner Zeitung also reprinted two cartoons as part of its coverage of the controversy.

Meanwhile, France-Soir printed a cartoon on its front page that showed Buddha, Yahweh, God and Muhammad sitting on a cloud, with God saying to Muhammad: "Don't be angry, we have all been caricatured". The front page headline read: "Yes, we have the right to caricature God".