The
ARN today urged Anthony McIntyre, editor of the
website "The Blanket", not to republish
the racist-cartoons that were initially printed
in Danish newspapers and have led to protests involving
hundreds of thousands of people around the world.
ARN
spokesperson Barbara Muldoon said "Context
is everything. These images reinforce the racist
notion that a terrorist is someone who looks like
a Muslim. Would The Blanket have supported
the republishing of the anti-Irish cartoons that
were printed in The Daily Express during
the 1970's? They were aimed at demonising Catholics
and Protestants and absolving Britain of any responsibility
for the troubles."
"In
the same way these cartoons claim that the biggest
danger in the world is censorship by Muslims. They
ignore the humiliation that is being visited on
countries with large Muslim populations like Afghanistan,
Iraq and Palestine. This simply justifies war and
occupation of those countries by Western powers
and leads to an increase in Islamophobia in the
West."
"The
Blanket has every right," Ms Muldoon added,
"to question ideas and prompt discussion. But
it is no accident that the BNP and other fascist
groups have used the cartoons to stir up anti-Muslim
racism. The level of physical attacks on Muslims
has increased rapidly over the last three years.
It is a matter of urgency that The Blanket
should review it's decision."
