In a direct challenge to the international uproar over cartoons lampooning the Prophet Muhammad, the Jordanian journalist Jihad Momani wrote: "What brings more prejudice against Islam, these caricatures or pictures of a hostage-taker slashing the throat of his victim in front of the cameras, or a suicide bomber who blows himself up during a wedding ceremony?"
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Shawn Baldwin for The New York Times
Jihad Momani, a Jordanian, is one of 11 journalists in five countries facing prosecution for reprinting cartoons lampooning the Prophet Muhammad, reflecting a battle among Muslims on how to respond to them.
Declaration by Islamic religious leaders and scholars
Khaled al-Hammadi for The New York Times
Yehiya al-Abed, an Al Hurriya reporter in Yemen, pointing, with Abdulkarim Sabra, its managing editor. They were accused of insulting Islam.
In Yemen, an editorial by Muhammad al-Assadi condemned the cartoons but also lamented the way many Muslims reacted. "Muslims had an opportunity to educate the world about the merits of the Prophet Muhammad and the peacefulness of the religion he had come with," Mr. Assadi wrote. He added, "Muslims know how to lose, better than how to use, opportunities."
To illustrate their points, both editors published selections of the drawings — and for that they were arrested and threatened with prison.
Furor Over Cartoons Pits Muslim Against Muslim
Two men, Jihad Momani and Muhammad al-Assadi both brought a message of peace and tolerant. For their trouble they have been jailed. When I speak of resistance, of confrontation it is not with these types of Muslims. It is with the types of Muslims that would imprison them. How the world can stand by and watch these things go on and have mixed feelings or be unsure is beyond me. How is it just that these men are jailed when all they did was confront a issue? Or is it just that the cartoonists have million dollar bounties on their heads? I do not advocate violence against Muslims, I do however advocate resistance against the radical forms of Islam which unfortunately happen to be the ones in power in many places.
Skip to next paragraph
Shawn Baldwin for The New York Times
Jihad Momani, a Jordanian, is one of 11 journalists in five countries facing prosecution for reprinting cartoons lampooning the Prophet Muhammad, reflecting a battle among Muslims on how to respond to them.
Declaration by Islamic religious leaders and scholars
Khaled al-Hammadi for The New York Times
Yehiya al-Abed, an Al Hurriya reporter in Yemen, pointing, with Abdulkarim Sabra, its managing editor. They were accused of insulting Islam.
In Yemen, an editorial by Muhammad al-Assadi condemned the cartoons but also lamented the way many Muslims reacted. "Muslims had an opportunity to educate the world about the merits of the Prophet Muhammad and the peacefulness of the religion he had come with," Mr. Assadi wrote. He added, "Muslims know how to lose, better than how to use, opportunities."
To illustrate their points, both editors published selections of the drawings — and for that they were arrested and threatened with prison.
Furor Over Cartoons Pits Muslim Against Muslim
Two men, Jihad Momani and Muhammad al-Assadi both brought a message of peace and tolerant. For their trouble they have been jailed. When I speak of resistance, of confrontation it is not with these types of Muslims. It is with the types of Muslims that would imprison them. How the world can stand by and watch these things go on and have mixed feelings or be unsure is beyond me. How is it just that these men are jailed when all they did was confront a issue? Or is it just that the cartoonists have million dollar bounties on their heads? I do not advocate violence against Muslims, I do however advocate resistance against the radical forms of Islam which unfortunately happen to be the ones in power in many places.
