Jyllands-Posten, a Danish newspaper, first printed 12 editorial cartoons depicting the prophet Muhammad in a negative light on Sept. 30, 2005. The controversy of these cartoons spread as newspapers in more than 30 countries reprinted the cartoons over the next four months, though Muslims believe it is forbidden to portray any images of their prophet, whether in a negative or positive light. “There’s a very big difference in portraying a religious figure in Christianity and Islam,” Ameir Al-Zoubi, a junior in computer science, said.

Some argue the cartoons were a part of freedom of speech, but many Muslims argue the images were offensive and the Danish government should have issued some sort of apology.

“I don’t think the Danish government’s actions showed a lack of respect for freedom of religion,” Robert Hambourger, a philosophy professor, said. “Freedom of religion allows people to practice their religion and worship as they choose. It should also allow them to defend their faith publicly and advance the claims of their religions.” Flemming Rose, the cultural editor of Jyllands-Posten, assigned 12 cartoonists to draw these cartoons since no Muslim would draw any for his book on Prophet Muhammad. One of the most inflammatory cartoons to Muslims depicts Muhammad wearing a turban on his head with the Islamic declaration of faith written on it and a bomb underneath the turban. “I know it angered me because I have great respect and love for the Prophet Muhammad. I feel that honestly, the people who drew those cartoons had no good reason to disrespect Prophet Muhammad,” Aziza Shanab, a freshman in psychology, said. “My question is what good came out of it? I believe religion should not be disrespected, and that is why I find those cartoons completely wrong.” Muslims in many countries, especially the Middle East, could be seen protesting the drawings after the Danish government and the publication refused to retract the cartoons or release a statement of apology. The protests ranged from the boycott of Danish products — which has had a small effect — to the rioting and burning of Danish embassies. Many Muslim organizations around the world are condemning the acts of violence committed in retaliation for the cartoons, but are also issuing statements that the cartoons were unwarranted and should not have been printed and reprinted. The Muslim Student Association held a roundtable discussion on Thursday about the controversy, and all participants agreed the acts of violence committed were wrong, but so were the cartoons. “The publication of the cartoons was an exercise of free speech, but that does not mean it was either a wise or an unmotivated exercise,” Anna Bigelow, assistant professor of philosophy and religion, said. “My own view is that the continual republication of images that are widely available already does not further anyone’s right of free speech but is merely inflammatory.” “Freedom of speech is relevant to who is defining it,” May El-Sadek, an alumna and participant in the roundtable MSA discussion, said. “In many parts of Europe, it is not a social taboo to satire and critique religion, whereas it is taboo to satire race,” Bigelow said. “The reluctance of the paper to print anti-Jewish or anti-Christian cartoons seems to indicate an editorial choice based on their readership. I would suggest that their policy requires serious examination.” Some Muslim students feel the cartoons were spurred from the relations of the U.S. and European countries with Muslim countries. “The land and people [in countries like Afghanistan and Iraq] have been dominated, and now they’re throwing salt on the wound by taking away their dignity,” Imran Aukhil, a senior in architecture, said. In Thursday’s paper of the Daily Tarheel, an original cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad was printed, despite the recent controversy. “The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is an institution that promotes cultural diversity,” Suzanne Barakat, a freshman in biochemistry at UNC-CH, said. “This cartoon has offended many groups on campus and has attacked not only Islam, but the idea of having true religious tolerance.” Waqaar Khawar, a senior in computer science, said he wanted to see a change in public perception of post-Sept.11 Muslims. “We have to [learn to] separate the terrorist attacks from Muslim belief,” he said.