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Demand to ban Muhammad picture | December 10, 2007

A minister in India's West Bengal state has called for a ban on a book carrying a picture the Prophet Muhammad.

Muslim HIndu relations have been strained to the point of violence in the eastern, Indian city of Calcutta (Kolkata). At the end of November riots closed down the city, requiring the use of troops to return the city to its normal day to day functions. BBC carried this report on November 22:

Calcutta calm after day of riots:
Life is returning to normal in the eastern Indian city of Calcutta a day after protests over a controversial writer turned into riots.

Soldiers on Calcutta's streets

On Wednesday, police using tear gas and baton charges were unable to control crowds calling for Bangladeshi feminist writer Taslima Nasreen [Read about Taslima here and here] to leave India.

Rioters blocked roads and set cars alight. At least 43 people were hurt.

More than 100 arrests were made.

Crowds were also protesting at recent attacks on Muslims in the Nandigram area in the east of West Bengal state.

Now, the BBC reports that a book has appeared about former Indian president and philosopher S Radhakrishnan that has a "picture of the Prophet Mohammad" (PBUH).  Minority affairs minister Abdus Sattar said the picture on the cover could lead to "religious tensions". 

The publisher of the book, Vijay Goel, said he could take the book off the market and ensure that the future editions did not carry the picture.

Additionally, Ms Nasreen withdrew some lines from one of her books after Calcutta was rocked by violent protests against her on 21 November.

It is the opinion of this writer that the frequency of Muslim protests and riots over real and perceived religious offense (like the recent riots calling for the death of s simple school teacher in Khartoum)  is a great negative in the world of religion, and that local Muslim leadership should become a community that champions more than anyone a stern insistence that believers behave with temperance, moderation, and respect.  Matters of religion and increasing understanding and care for that which is sacred in our respective traditions can come without destructive, personal abandon and self indulgence as imagined righteousness. 

Posted by admin at December 10, 2007 08:15 AM


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