Discuss “Danish cartoon controversy and Islam: An American Muslim’s perspective”

When I first heard that a Danish newspaper, Jyllands-Posten, had published inflammatory cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), my initial reaction was of great disappointment and sadness. I was deeply troubled by the fact that the editorial board of a supposedly respectable newspaper would publish such content, despite knowing that nearly a quarter of the world’s population would find it greatly offensive. As a Muslim and as an American, I was raised to always respect the religious beliefs of others. This universal principle that we hold so dear in this country was egregiously disregarded by the newspaper’s editors.

In no way do I support censoring free speech. Jyllands-Posten had the legal right to publish the cartoons,...