This Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy has grown way out of hand. The Toronto Star is reporting that protests have escalated today with "aggrieved believers calling for executions, storming European buildings and setting European flags afire".
Thousands of outraged Syrian demonstrators stormed the Danish and Norwegian embassies in Damascus, setting fire to both buildings. As thick black smoke rose into the air, police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse the demonstrators, who shouted, "Allahu Akbar!" which is Arabic for "God is great!"
Remember, this is all because the Danish newspaper Jyllandes-Posten published twelve cartoon caricatures of Islam's Prophet Muhammad last September. These cartoons were reprinted in European publications this week. You can see the cartoons in question here. For a good breakdown as to what he cartoons mean, read this.
I sense the outrage in the Muslim world will only intensify over the coming days. The cartoons were published as part of a public debate on freedom of expressions, and they've well proved their point. This gross over-reaction by "aggrieved believers" has gone way too far. They're burning down the Danish Embassy because they disapprove of the content of cartoons. Whether in good taste or bad, freedom of expression is a right democratic nations cherish. I've read and seen some things I've fundamentally disagreed with, but I'll always voice my disapproval with words or at the ballot box. Violence is not an acceptable response.
I just hope blood won't spill because of a little ink.
