Storm Track Intimidation: Another Cartoonist in Trouble with Islam

What’s with cartoonists these days? Are they some kind of 5^th column undermining the peaceful and tolerant religion of Islam – or perhaps, just free speech and satire? Now it’s some poor Bangladeshi cartoonist who’s paying for his right to free speech with a jail sentence. I don’t know how much more of Islamic tolerance I can take.

Bangladeshi authorities Tuesday arrested a cartoonist after drawings that Muslims said insulted their religion were published in a national newspaper, police and the government said.

A Home Ministry statement said Arifur Rahman's sketches — titled "Name" — that came out Monday in a weekly supplement of the Prothom Alo — "hurt the religious sentiments of the people."

The Home Ministry also ordered the confiscation of all copies of the satirical supplement, called "Alpin." The government also urged "all to show restrain over the unwarranted incident."

Prothom Alo authorities apologized for publishing the cartoon and withdrew the supplement.

So what insulted the Muslim sensibilities?

Read the rest at The Gathering Storm.