In light of the Charlie-Hebdo attacks and as a former Muslim I feel it is necessary to point out that my comics are not intended to be an exercise of spiteful and provocative irreverence for its own sake. Any cartoonist who draws Islam’s prophet for these reasons takes a profoundly weak platform from which to spread their craft. Like most meaningful endeavors this is something one grows into. My comics are not about disrespecting people, but discrediting bad ideas. For me, that bad idea is religion. More specifically, it is about Islam, which happens to be the bad idea with which I am most familiar.
I have no illusions about drawing the prophet. Before I conceived this project, a friend of mine chidingly remarked: “If you start drawing Muhammad I don’t know you—” and there it is in plain English: religious extremists are getting their way. It is taken for granted that drawing Muhammad or even satirizing Islam is an activity best left alone. In a free society, ideas should not be beyond question or ridicule. Any good idea should be able to withstand criticism and a few doodles.
Anyone can draw a stick-figure of Muhammad sodomizing a goat and offend Muslims to get attention—but this would be in poor taste and preclude meaningful dialogue. This does happen and we should on some level accept it. The First Amendment is not limited to people with something intelligent to say—imbeciles and bigots also share this right (so long as they do not harm others in its exercise).
While I am convinced that religion has outlived its usefulness, I do my best to give people the respect and compassion they deserve. I know decent Muslims—as well as those whose views are unsavory (to say the least). People are entitled to their beliefs, but I cannot tolerate being threatened into silence because I may offend the delicate sensibilities of a violent fundamentalist.
I dream of the day Islamic leaders will implement reforms that make their religion less malleable in the hands of religious fascists. In the best of worlds, Muslim theocrats would humbly renounce state powers and accept the more realistic title: professor of mythology. I aim to encourage people to renounce superstition and embrace free expression and mutual respect. We have no savior besides each other.
I am a Muslim and i support Donald Trump west NEED one more HITLER
Jews created Islamophobia for their own advantage for ISRAEL
Name the few Zionist who spreading FEAR of Muslims and Islam, Pamela Geller, ( SAM ) Harris, Bill Maher , David Horowitz
Donald Trump and the rise of right wing fascism in the Europe / west AGAINST the Muslims is a product of Islamophobia
NOW Jews AFRAID of monsters they created anti-Muslim Donald Trump and the rise of right-wing fascism in the Europe / West
Jesus said to the Jews: “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”
Is it Islamophobia good or bad for the Muslims?…. GOOD,… i know it is hard to understand,
Islamophobia is a SHOCK therapy for the Muslims to reform themselves
Islamophobia will forced Muslims to reform themselves
Muslims NEED reformation NOT Islam
I had already seen positive effect of Islamophobia on Muslims
WE NEEDED THAT !
Islamophobia is GOOD for the Muslims and BAD for our enemies
Quran: ” Perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah Knows, while you know not.”
Islamophobia is BAD for our enemies, Islamophobia WILL divide white people and could bring civil war AMONG the white race
IF civil war AMONG the white race did happened in the future, God have mercy on the Jews
Even if Donald trump did not became president of America,
SOON one day another Donald Trump will come to the power and he will be WORSE then this one
Maybe this Donald Trump is not bad but you have to worry about his evil supporters who will be electing another Donald Trump in the future
Jews created mindless zombies that they cannot control !
SOON this zombies will eat Jews alive NOT the Muslims
Zionists radicalizing white race against the Muslims for their OWN interest for Israel
But it WILL back-fire
SOON these radicalized WHITE-MALE will became violent Jihadist to save the PURITY of WHITE RACE and ( WHITE-POWER ) and Jews will be HIDING from them for their own life
YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW
Quran: “But they plan, and Allah plans. And Allah is the best of planners.”
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Trump 2016 deport all sand-niggers
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Glad to hear your profound and insightful remarks.
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Syed, your ignorance is astounding. If you are content to say that Muslims are the errand boys of Nazis and other fascistic ideologies, you tacitly agree that Islam is dirty as them. I highly recommend you read a book besides the Quran and listen to some academics besides the naive and deranged Youtube imams from which it seems you get your incoherent ideas.
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Mohamed–
Lovely post. Thank you for being so thoughtful. Best of luck in your endeavors.
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I was just looking at the comments again and it’s nice to see a sane person here. LOL.
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