I fly a Danish flag from my balcony each time this discussion re-appears! Interestingly, it's never excited any comment - are the British ignoring this threat to our way of life?

Andy Dyer, London, UK,

Muslims need to be able to take both criticism and mockery. If they cannot, they will be seen by others to be like a person who cannot accept criticism or mockery: immature, over-sensitive, weird, self-obsessed, paranoid, unable to have a good time, twitchy, restless, serious, obsessive, self-important and occasionally hot-headed and violent. We all know individuals like that and their behaviour stems from such a neurosis. Islam as a faith shows many traits similar to this neurotic type and the only medication that works is learning how to be tolerant of others.

Donald Smith , London , UK

I can't help thinking giles burgess is wrong comparing the offence caused by racial equality, gay rights, evolution, etc. it is not the intention of any of these to cause offence, so they should not be compared with insulting moslems deliberately.

however, s s ali (and the majority of moslem comment), the whole point of the cartoons is that they are not meant merely to insult islam, but rather to insult the hypocrisy or those who claim to follow islam, but are really using it as a cover for their own despicable agenda.

far from being an insult, the cartoons point out that there are "moslems" who are insulting islam and we all find that offensive. what could be more insulting to your prophet than perverting a religion of peace to justify indiscriminate violence again the innocent?

if you want to get upset about something, get upset with the terrorists who abuse your faith and turn everyone against you. not the ones pointing this out.

jem, london, uk

At last!

Matt, Mids, UK

I can't believe it even got to court, but maybe it did to show clearly how utterly stupid the claim is. As for their claim - there *is* a link between Islam and terrorism, ,so what on earth is wrong in parodying this in a cartoon? If they are insulted by the facts, go off and be insulted; that's their choice. I am sick to death of the world being sued because people choose to be offended, or "take" offence. Simple: when faced with pure fact, choose not to, and don't be.

Laura Roberts, London, UK

Another victory for freedom of speech!

Rob, Wallasey,

I can't help thinking giles burgess is wrong comparing the offence caused by racial equality, gay rights, evolution, etc. it is not the intention of any of these to cause offence, so they should not be compared with insulting moslems deliberately.

however, s s ali (and the majority of moslem comment), the whole point of the cartoons is that they are not meant merely to insult islam, but rather to insult the hypocrisy or those who claim to follow islam, but are really using it as a cover for their own despicable agenda.

far from being an insult, the cartoons point out that there are "moslems" who are insulting islam and we all find that offensive. what could be more insulting to your prophet than perverting a religion of peace to justify indiscriminate violence again the innocent?

if you want to get upset about something, get upset with the terrorists who abuse your faith and turn everyone against you. not the ones pointing this out.

jem, london, uk

Sir ,
Am I the only one to sympathise with the wisdom of our traditional Anglo-saxon realist philosophers as opposed to the idealogical secular fanatics of the Continent?

With regard to freedom e.g. freedom of speech, the great British philosopher, John Locke said:

"Complete freedom is only for the newborn savage, all else (on the way to civilisation) is compromise."

Much more pragmatic than a Rousseau, or the misquote oft attributed to Voltaire, " I defend your..."

Jeremy, St Albans, England

One up for freedom to insult. One down for mutual respect of the belief systems of your own nations ethic makeup.

Farrukh, Woking, UK

And just how many cartoons and jokes have there been that have mocked other religions? Most Muslims would laugh at these cartoons and see them for what they are, a comment on the blind faith exhibited by the fundamentalist. In Christianity we are encouraged by Jesus to take nothing at face value, to question our beliefs in order to prove them. By blindly accepting what we are told without question is to take away the very thing that makes us human, our free will. I'm glad this case has turned out this way, but I fear it wil not stop those who want to exercise control over thier followers.

Ron, Milton Keynes, Bucks

There appears to be a double standard where Islam is concerned. One rule for them and another for everyone else. They can offend other religions, but the rest of us cannot say anything even slightly negative about theirs.

This is wrong and should be stopped completely. A line must be drawn they should not be allowed to complain about petty things and ridicule to justice system.
I speak only about the extremists as I know a lot of muslims who are actually open minded.

Even the extremists have broken the rules and teachings set in their holy book but are just too blind and narrow minded to see.

Open your eyes and learn to accept everyone else. Otherwise it could lead to some very serious problems with uncontrollable consequesnces.

Man-of-the-world, London,

Good news indeed. Maybe there is still time to roll back dhimmitude among the west's media and reclaim our right to freedom of expression, and freedom from oppresive ancient belief systems.

paul , sheffield, UK

islamists are so adamant these days because they are losing ground with the internet and other media...that's why they are trying to lock their flock in ignorance, it is a trend they can't event fight in saudi arabia: what country could seriously consider the selling of red roses on st valentine a threat to its security?
They are trying to impress the rest of the world but they only fool themselves. It will be a long struggle but I see reasons to be optimistic, only the blind will not accept to see they are misled. Reason will prevail.

François, paris, france

"mockery and undermining others believes is not acivilized way to express yourself or encourage dialogue with others

s s ali, khartoum, sudan"

I don't think a commentator from the Sudan is in a position to lecture anyone on civilisation.

J, London,

The Koran/Haddith contain numerous passges which insite 'followers' to commit acts of mysogyny, anti-semintism, ethinic cleansing, homophobia, torture and mutilation.

Not an urban myth, they really do , read them!

i find these books offensive and dangerous. To which court can I take my complaint?

James Youth, London,

mockery and undermining others believes is not acivilized way to express yourself or encourage dialogue with others

s s ali, khartoum, sudan

I simply do not believe that insulting Islam is actually against any real tenet of the original system. Instead, what we have is a defense to protect the institutional element of the religion, a defense by the priests of the religion. Their way is safe if criticism is not allowed. It seems clear that drawing a picture of Mohammad is not prohibited by any actual specific rule from the master himself. Nor is criticism specifically prohibited. All of this nonsense is a later creation.

As for free speech, if the Muslims want to sue in court, that is their right. If they want to spend the money on attorneys it is their right to do so. In the United States there are established protections for the freedom of the press to publish mean and cruel statements, offensive and all the rest.

The Muslims need to understand the modern world, not so much the other way round.

Richard, San Mateo, Cakifornia, USA

Well done Lars Vilks and Ulf Johansson... both men with guts. Keep up the good work, I think most of the world... all except a few idiots... is behind you. Wish more publications would take the same line. We should all stand together in the face of these extremists.

john, London, UK

Blasphemy is actually only a crime according to sharia law. Despite this neither the Times nor any British paper publish these cartoons

Christopher Hyde, Paris, France

Bigotery, bigotry in their own countries were islam is used to oppress and maintain its people in ignorance and fear, now more than ever this backward trend is rapidly beeing introduced to the west. Subtle invasions tactics used by Islam (and others religions) to take over with special treatments (the veil, the burkas and other identity castration means )
lets all see these cartoons.
Frank
,London, canada

Francois, London, Canada

Consider:

"I am under no obligation to respect your beliefs. Respect ... is not an entitlement. I may regard creationists as plain wrong, which would make holding their beliefs in high regard nonsensical. In kind, if I proclaim on a street corner that a certain Japanese beetle in my back garden is the new Messiah, you are also within your rights to ridicule me as a fruitcake." -- Lionel Shriver 28-Dec-04 http://www.opinionjournal.com/la/?id=110006080

"Free speech includes not only the inoffensive but the irritating, the contentious, the eccentric, the heretical, the unwelcome and the provocative... Freedom only to speak inoffensively is not worth having." -- Lord Justice Sedley
in Redmond-Bate 23-Jul-99 http://www.freebeagles.org/caselaw/CL_bp_Redmond-Bate_notes.html

"If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter." -- George Washington

Ex Deo Libertas.

Ralph Thayer, New London, Connecticut -- USA

Giles of New York:
I absolutely agree but surely we have been having the wrong discussion all along. Should we not be discussing how freedom of expression can be protected in law?
Rational, thinking, liberal people have been distracted by the idea of offence being caused to one party or another. That is not an issue - someone will always be offended. What we need to do in the west is make it a criminal offence to prevent or attempt to prevent someone from exercising their right to freedom of expression. This simple piece of legislation would avoid the pitfalls of trying to appease the multitude of competing religious opinions.
Now that would be defending the enlightenment!

Bill, Glasgow,

The best defense the Times could give this cartoonist is by publishing the cartoon. If enough newspapers publish it, and any other cartoon which provokes a death sentence, then 1) the threateners will learn that their threats simply increase the number of people who see the cartoon and 2) there will eventually be too many publishers involved for the death threats to be threatening.

Andy Jackson, London,

Muslim extremists have to be the biggest babies on the planet - AND hypocrites. They want to bring the entire world back to the good ol' days of Islam (the 7th century) but use all the modern technology they can get their hands on to do so !
Life is tough Islamists - Stop whining and wear a helmet !

Ken, Oakville, Canada

AMEN GILES!! I admire extremely Mr. Vilks. He is not backing down from a threat from Al Qaida in Iraq (who, according to the far left, is not really in Iraq!).

I believe that every single cartoonist in the world should draw an "offensive" cartoon, and every single newspaper in the free world should publish it, simply to confound those who would threaten anyone who draws cartoons, and to make the point that we will not be intimidated into losing our freedoms.

I am reminded of the story of the threat against Jews in a small town, where thugs were using Menorrahs placed in windows as a beacon to kill...so the whole town put Menorrahs in their windows. Stopped the thugs, letting them know that their way would not be tolerated.

We, as a world, must do the same.

Lost My Tunnel Vision, Palo Alto, California

Giles Burgess has hit the button on the head.

Why can't every respect that there are differences in our opinions. Have you every looked at the cartoons in the Islamic papers or heard the hate speeches from their religious leaders. The speak of collective bombing being wrong, but they do collective hate education.

reza santorini, chicago, USA

By giving in to these threats we are consenting to live by Islamic laws.

This is Europe with European laws.....it seems lately that we are having to fight harder to keep our way of life.

Eizabeth Philips, Halifax, UK

this is an interesting problem, indeed. Muslims should certainly respect basic freedom of speech. However, to mock or insult our Prophet when we don't insult yours seems a bit out of line. Having said that, the Taliban were also extremist in their views towards liberal Muslims as well as the bombing of the giant Buddha's but I like to believe they didn't represent mainstream Muslim opinion and certainly no government or group supported them in those acts.

Surprisingly the furore has been much less than that of the Danish cartoon row. It remains to be seen if the Swedish muslim community starts to agitate and complain as loudly as the Danes did. If so then this issue can be even more explosive given the nature of this cartoon.

Mohommad Ali, washington, DC

How many of these insults, death threats, and yes... actual murders.... will it take before WE decide that these terrorists and reactionary Isamists are insulting to US? How long before we demand that Abu Omar al-Baghdadi appologise?

Annie B, LA, CA

To Mr. Lars Vilks I offer my hearty congratulations.

Wallace Edward Brand, Alexandria, Virginia, USA

Good for Mr. Vilks. Here in America cartoonist have been banned from drawing such cartoons. They have lost their freedom of speech due to fear.

Gene Peterson, Thermopolis,

I am unclear as to why countries like Sweden don't reply in kind, and put the same price on the head of Abu Omar al-Baghdadi. It's not as if the US doesn't already offer rewards for terrorists.

After all, don't they believe in "an eye for eye"?

jc, Atlanta, GA, USA

Thos worried by these constant attacks on free speech by Islamists should take a look at what is happening at the United Nations, where fanatical Islamic nations are beavering away to have critcisim of Islam made into an illegal act internationally..

Such is their influence and determination, that they are likely to succeed. Those of us who value free speech as the bedrock of democracy may one day soon wake up to find that it has disappeared.

So all power to the elbow of this defiant cartoonist. There should be more like him.

Barry Henderson, London, UK

It is a sad time for us all when artists and writers must receive police protection from homicidal religious zealots.

Rather than apologize we should all be outraged & offended by these overt & covert efforts aimed at stifling and punishing our most creative people for utilizing their artistic talents.

Mr. Vilks refuses to be bullied - and so should we.

M. Lawlor, Florida , USA

The claim that artistically depicting Muhammad is an absolute principal of Islam is refuted by history.
Many portraits and depictions of Muhammad have been created by Muslim artists ,often commissioned by Muslim rulers down through the centuries . i.e. a 16th century miniature by Sultan Muhammad -Nur Bokharai showing Muhammad riding Buraq, a horse with the face of a beautiful woman on his way to Jerusalem for his nocturnal journey to Heaven ; another is a 16th century painting showing Muhammad guided by the angel Gabriel guiding the prophet into Medina after he fled Mecca. The US Supreme court sports a statue of Muhammad as one of a group of great law givers .
These are just 3 examples of many reported by Amir Taheri in an interesting Wall Street Journal essay in 2005 which refutes the claim that Muhammad has never been depicted in an icon like context .

b. lyons, Camden , usa

I could understand Muslims taking offence were it not for the fact that they are more than willing to give offence. Radical Islamic literature speaks openly of hating non-believers, describes Jews as the children of apes and pigs, describes women as of limited intellect and little worth, and calls music, singing, and other arts debased, corrupt, filthy, obscene and so on. If they are so willing to hand it out, they must learn to take it. Drawing Muhammad as a dog is not particularly witty, but it's hardly a patch on what some Muslim 'scholars' say about things I and millions of others hold dear. When they curse freedom (it allows human beings to make their own laws instead of God's laws) or democracy (the same), yet so many millions of Muslims have benefited from living in democracies that have given them refuge, I am deeply offended.

Dr. Denis MacEoin, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

While the acquittal is welcome, it is quite outrageous that insulting Muslims (or any other religious group) could be illegal at all. Many people find the idea of Evolution offensive: should we ban Darwin from bookshelves? Racial equality, universal suffrage, gay rights - these ideas have offended many religious people over the years. Should their advocates have been silenced?
Far from being progressive, legislation to protect beliefs from challenge (and yes, ridicule) is profoundly illiberal.

Giles Burgess, New York, USA