Norway: Is there another caricature battle in store?

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Hadhrat Ahmad had said Islam condemns blasphemy on ethical and moral grounds, but through his repeated readings of the Quran he has not yet found a single verse that allow people to punish other people for blasphemy.

ASKS FOR RESPECT: Shahid Mahmood Kahloon, imam
at the Ahmadiyya mosque in Furuset Oslo, says the Koran
condemns blasphemy, but it is not a crime to be punished
by people. He asks for respect for the Islamic prohibition
against depicting the Prophet. Photo: Trond Lepperød

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | EU Desk
Source/Credit: Nettavisen
By Trond Lepperød | October 8, 2012
Excerpt only: Translated, adopted and edited by Ahmadiyya Times staff

Freedom of expression is must, but also be respectful 

The web is flooded with the Prophet Muhammad caricatures. Is a new Norwegian drawings provocative enough to trigger a new caricature battle?

In Furuset, Oslo, there is a mosque that gathers a group of Muslims who know the importance of freedom of expression.

Ahmadiyya Muslims are a persecuted group in many countries and they are not recognized by the mainstream Muslims. However, their view about depiction of the Prophet Muhammad in film, photos or drawings, they are restrained.

There must be freedom of expression, but it must not be at the expense of respect for others, said Imam Shahid Mahmood Kahloon to Nettavisen.

Fazal A. Anas, a spokesman for the Ahmadiyya movement's mosque, shook his heads in disapproval of Rasmussen's drawing but he think she is just looking for attention.

“We are against the ridicule of religious figures, because it is disrespectful, built on lies and ignorance,” says Anas. “Using freedom of expression as a pretext for this, bit it does not make us a good role models for our children, especially when we otherwise teach them why bullying is wrong.”

“We support no such course of reaction as the burning of flags, violence or murder because it is not in line with Islam.”

“But it is very wrong to make pictures or drawings of the Prophet,” Anas added. “We love our prophet more than anything else and over a billion people in the world love him who are hurt by this.”

“We believe there must be respect for all religions,” the Ahmadiyya representative declared.

The two stated what the former head of Ahmadiyya movement, Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad once said about blasphemy.

Hadhrat Ahmad had said Islam condemns blasphemy on ethical and moral grounds, but through his repeated readings of the Quran he has not yet found a single verse that allow people to punish other people for blasphemy.

“Our answer to this is a book about the Prophet's life and teachings, which is almost ready,” they said.

The congregation has invited representatives of all the major religious communities in Furuset to discuss just religion and freedom of expression on October 25.

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