Parading banners that called for the killing of newspaper editors and broadcasters from the BBC who showed cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad, they marched across the capital from the mosque in Regent’s Park after Friday prayers.

There were sporadic clashes with passers-by over chants praising the four British-born suicide bombers who killed 52 passengers on three Underground trains and a London bus last July 7.

People who tried to snatch away what they regarded as offending placards were held back by police. Several members of the public tackled senior police officers guarding the protesters, demanding to know why they allowed banners that praised the “Magnificent 19” — the terrorists who hijacked the aircrafts used on September 11, 2001 — and others threatening further attacks on London.

The officers said that their role was to ensure public order and safety. Police had closed off main roads to allow the procession a clear route. Protesters screamed: “UK, you must pray — 7/7 is on its way.”

Organisers of the protest insisted that there would be more rallies over the weekend and predicted that British Muslims would lead the backlash against those mocking Islam.

The start of their campaign was in the heart of London’s most exclusive shopping enclave, where the Danish Embassy is squeezed between some of the most expensive designer stores in the capital. Banners made references to the British suicide bombers with slogans such as: “Europe, you will pay. Fantastic 4 are on their way.”

Anjem Choudary, one of the organisers, refused to condemn threats of another series of bombings on Britain. He said: “The fact is 7/7 was brought upon the people of London by the foreign policy of Tony Blair. He violated the sanctity of Muslims. He violated the covenant of security.

“If Muslims don’t feel safe and think they will be subject to arrest or deportation, if their houses are going to be raided, then there will be repercussions. There’s no reason why there will not be another suicide bombing.”

Penned in Sloane Street outside the Danish Embassy in the biting cold, the protesters vented their anger, but police said that the protest produced no arrests.

WEBLINKS

http://epaper.jp.dk/30-09-2005/demo/JP_04-03.html
Jyllands-Posten, the Danish paper that first published the 12 cartoons

www.francesoir.quotidiano.net
France Soir, which republished the cartoons

www.lemonde.fr
Le Monde, which published a cartoon in support of Jyllands-Posten

www.intelligence.org.il
Israeli website that monitors anti-Semitic cartoons in Palestinian Authority newspaper Al-Hayat Al-Jadeeda

www.ipc.gov.ps
Palestinian National Authority State Information Service, featuring anti-Jewish cartoons

www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/697228/posts
Round-up of Palestinian anti-Israeli and anti-American cartoons

Images of Muhammad in artistic context:

The Boston Museum of Fine Arts
www.mfa.org/

The University of California
www.ucla.edu/

Edinburgh University
www.ed.ac.uk/

South Park
http://www.southparkstudios.com/

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