European attacks on the Prophet S.A.S aren't a knew phenomenon. Some documents from the Ottoman archives show that Sultan Abdulhamid stopped a French writer from showing a play called "Mohammed" in 1890. This actor didn't quit after all. He tried to play it in one of London's most prestigious theaters but failed because the Sultan intervened with the British authorities. The French writer tried again three years later but failed again.

In 1900, a play by the name of " Mohhamed's Paradise" was about to be performed. Sultan Abdulhamid intervened and the played was shown after its name and contents, which were anti-Islamic, were changed.

parlaksari:

"Who has used the Atom bomb and killed many innocent people? Who could dare to use that kind of bomb? Did Muslim have made this?"

The Muslims did not invent the suicide bomber in modern warfare. That honor goes to the kamikaze Japanese in WWII. The attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki gave the fanatical Japanese a psychological out to surrender, preventing annihilation of their country and a million US casualties. The fanatical Muslims should take note of the rational decision to use atomic weapons. When faced with mass casualties from fanatics, we will use our superior technology to defend ourselves.

Muslims can't have it both ways. If you want to live in Western countries, then don't expect them to conform to your crazy beliefs. If you care that much about living in the stone age, then stay in your own country.

IF YOU HAVE ANY DECENCY, REMOVE THE COMMENTS WHICH DISRESPECT PROPHET MOHAMMED PEACE BE UPON HIM

Asim:
You report a story about a Jewish boy throwing garbage at your prophet, and your prophet visited him when he was sick.

Ali Sina commented on this story several times.

Quote:
Such story does not exist in any hadith or anywhere else. This is a new fabrication. This has happened to Abdul-Baha about 1868 (?) when he and his father were exiled to Akkah and has nothing to do with Muhammad

Quote:
I have not seen that hadith that say a Jewish person used to dump garbage at Muhammad though I heard this story from childhood. But it cannot be true. Muhammad was never living in the Jewish neighborhoods. Jews in Medina had their quarters. Muhammad was such a vengeful man that he ordered the assassination of Abu Afak, a 120 year old man who was a Jew and whose crime was to compose a lyric ridiculing Muhammad and his claim. Muhammad asked one of his followers to get him rid of this man. Asma bint Marwan who was a poetess became so angry that wrote a poetry cursing the men of Medina for letting a Meccan kill an old man and do nothing. Muhammad asked one of his followers who volunteered to kill her. He entered in Asma’s home and pierced her chest with his sword while she was asleep with her five children beside her, the smallest was a nursing baby. How can such a man who could not bear someone criticizing him in poetry forgive someone throwing garbage at him? These stories of grandeur of Muhammad along with those attributing miracles to him are all forgeries concocted by over zealot believers. Even today the followers of diverse cults make stories such as these and attribute them to their gurus.

When Muslim population remains around 1% of any given country they will be regarded as a peace-loving minority and not as a threat to anyone:
United States -- Muslim 1.0%
Australia -- Muslim 1.5%
Canada -- Muslim 1.9%
China -- Muslim 1%-2%
Italy -- Muslim 1.5%
Norway -- Muslim 1.8%

At 2% and 3% they begin to proselytize from other ethnic minorities and disaffected groups with major recruiting from the jails and among street gangs:
Denmark -- Muslim 2%
Germany -- Muslim 3.7%
United Kingdom -- Muslim 2.7%
Spain -- Muslim 4%
Thailand -- Muslim 4.6%

From 5% on they exercise an inordinate influence in proportion to their percentage of the population.They will push for the introduction of halal (clean by Islamic standards) food, thereby securing food preparation jobs for Muslims. They will increase pressure on supermarket chains to feature it on their shelves -- along with threats for failure to comply. At this point, they will work to get the ruling government to allow them to rule themselves under Sharia, the Islamic Law.
France -- Muslim 8%
Philippines -- Muslim 5%
Sweden -- Muslim 5%
Switzerland -- Muslim 4.3%
The Netherlands -- Muslim 5.5%
Trinidad & Tobago -- Muslim 5.8%

When Muslims reach 10% of the population, they will increase lawlessness as a means of complaint about their conditions (Paris -- car-burnings) . Any non-Muslim action that offends Islam will result in uprisings and threats (Amsterdam -- Mohammed cartoons).
Guyana -- Muslim 10%
India -- Muslim 13.4%
Israel -- Muslim 16%
Kenya -- Muslim 10%
Russia -- Muslim 10-15%

After reaching 20% expect hair-trigger rioting, jihad militia formations, sporadic killings and church and synagogue burning:
Ethiopia -- Muslim 32.8%

At 40% you will find widespread massacres, chronic terror attacks and ongoing militia warfare:
Bosnia -- Muslim 40%
Chad -- Muslim 53.1%
Lebanon -- Muslim 59.7%

From 60% you may expect unfettered persecution of non-believers and other religions, sporadic ethnic cleansing (genocide), use of Sharia Law as a weapon and Jizya, the tax placed on infidels:
Albania -- Muslim 70%
Malaysia -- Muslim 60.4%
Qatar -- Muslim 77.5%
Sudan -- Muslim 70%

After 80% expect State run ethnic cleansing and genocide:
Bangladesh -- Muslim 83%
Egypt -- Muslim 90%
Gaza -- Muslim 98.7%
Indonesia -- Muslim 86.1%
Iran -- Muslim 98%
Iraq -- Muslim 97%
Jordan -- Muslim 92%
Morocco -- Muslim 98.7%
Pakistan -- Muslim 97%
Palestine -- Muslim 99%
Syria -- Muslim 90%
Tajikistan -- Muslim 90%
Turkey -- Muslim 99.8%

100% will usher in the peace of "Dar-es-Salaam" -- the Islamic House of Peace -- there's supposed to be peace because everybody is a Muslim:
Afghanistan -- Muslim 100%
Saudi Arabia -- Muslim 100%
Somalia -- Muslim 100%
Yemen -- Muslim 99.9%

Parlak - From where in the world do you imagine Christians were responsible for the Holocaust?

Really. From where?

The holocaust was perpetrated by pagan nazis - whose closest relatives are - imagine this - muslims.

The grand mufti was in communication with the nazi government because he was just beside himself to have found a kindred spirit who also wished to eradicate the world of Jews.

Nobody really wants to rid the world of muslims - although it would demonstrably make the world a safer place. It is the muslims who demand obiescience to an irrational, violent imaginary entity. Lacking that - you die or live in subjugation - end of discussion.

Wake up parlak. Spit out the qat.

You have not debated my points in any rational manner.

Go back to the mosque, pray and consult the imam for a better spin.

Then try again.

Good luck.

Posted on April 1, 2008 20:17

to Anonymous:

Why it is so hard for you to understand that not all Muslims did get angry or wants to kill Danish cartoonist, believe me most of them do not care about their cartoons. So don't blame all Muslim's. I do not have any desire to burn the Danish flag!! really.

By the way who is responsible from the Holocaust? Can we say that Christian people killed the Jewish people? This is the answer of your question. So can we say that all Christians hate Jewish people, according to your blind approach? (Your question: Do you see Christians or Jews raging in the streets, murdering and burning flags when egregious things are said, or clearly anti Jewish and anti Christian things appear in print or on film?)

You don’t look like an objective person. Your comments reveal yourself, your thoughts are blindfolded. So I don’t think that they are valuable and do not deserve any more attention.

Posted on April 1, 2008 20:17

to Anonymous:

Why it is so hard for you to understand that not all Muslims did get angry or wants to kill Danish cartoonist, believe me most of them do not care about their cartoons. So don't blame all Muslim's. I do not have any desire to burn the Danish flag!! really.

By the way who is responsible from the Holocaust? Can we say that Christian people killed the Jewish people? This is the answer of your question. So can we say that all Christians hate Jewish people, according to your blind approach? (Your question: Do you see Christians or Jews raging in the streets, murdering and burning flags when egregious things are said, or clearly anti Jewish and anti Christian things appear in print or on film?)

You don’t look like an objective person. Your comments reveal yourself, your thoughts are blindfolded. So I don’t think that they are valuable and do not deserve any more attention.

When Pastor Jeremiah Wright made a misrepresentaion of Christianity, almost all Christians were appalled by his diatribe. Nobody was angry over who uploaded that video on the net.

Well said. Notice there were no demonstrations, beheadings, idiotic placards, or any of the usual islamic drama.

Big difference between a civilized democracy and a 7th century fascist mob.

When Pastor Jeremiah Wright made a misrepresentaion of Christianity, almost all Christians were appalled by his diatribe. Nobody was angry over who uploaded that video on the net.

On the other hand, when some muslims "misrepresented " Islam and somebody (Wilder) uploaded them on the net, what we see are all muslims clamoring for the head of Mr.Wilder. What did Mr. Wider do? He just compiled the video so you muslims would censure those people who are "misrepresenting" you.

All of muslims' reaction mirror those of the barbarians seen in those videos. Instead of making speeches condemning those barbaric act, they are all clamoring for Mr.Wilder to be punished. WHAT COULD BE MORE STUPID THAN THAT?

I think there would come a time when after all the dust of the coming greatest war settles down, the surviving muslims will burn the book which caused all this Grandest Stupidity to occur.

*******

Is there anything wrong with FITNA? It just showed the videos of muslims recording themselves and their actions. If you want to stop another FITNA coming out sometime in the future, then restrict all muslims from having a video camera. Simple as that.

I thought that only a few muslim have this "terrorist tendencies" but after hearing former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad issued a threat of banning all Dutch products, it seems like this "terrorist tendency" is actually endemic in ALL muslims.

What if the rest of the world bans Malaysia's products coz it has a stupid former prime minister? Is that reasonable? Judging from the threats he issued, he would probably say that it is reasonable.

The man is a doctor so I'd like to ask him this question. Hey doctor, is there a medicine for the kind of illness that you have? Better find a cure before this world comes to an end. And I'm talking about your world. Stupidity is self destructive, you know. You could be pointing that hammer you're holding now towards yourself.

Gerard - don't give up - try again.

Perhaps you can explain your reasoning.

You seem to professing frustration at what you perceive to be intolerant views. You suggest that is it is only a small minority (my words) of muslims committing these acts, yet all muslims are being blamed.

How, then, do you accept - and one has to believe you are accepting through your silence - the idea the the MUSLIMS are blaming entire cultures and countries for a cartoon or a documentary made by only a few people?

Isn't it the Danish flag which is being burned? Are not the threats made by muslims against the west in general? Was not the attack on 9/11 perpetrated against Americans in general - as well as the attack on 7/11 on Brits in general - as well as the Bali bombing on, well, humanity in general?

I would love to hear what you have to say to that. Since I now understand English is not your language - I will be more patient. You see, that is a hallmark of the west - patience.

We have lots and lots of long range bombers - but they are still on the ground....

@anonymous

lol

ok, I give up. This is not my native language.

gerard - post a coherent question and someone will answer it.

@Wyatt April 1, 2008 6:23 PM

Why don't you just judge ALL people by their deeds. Your neighbor by his own deeds, and not by those of some radicals who happen to have the same religion.

What we see in the clip is some of the words and deeds by SOME of the followers. The images are not new and well known. The only upsetting thing about it, is the vicious suggestion that this is characteristic of ALL muslims.

@Anonymous April 1, 2008 5:39 PM

You say about the european muslims: "Muslims who are not part of the problem, ARE part of the problem through their acquiescence".
This is outrageous. Can you be precise ? In what respect have non-muslims in Europe set up any activities where euromuslims have stayed out ? How can one and the same political party acquiesce for its muslim voters, and not consent for its non-muslim voters ?

Judge Islam by the words and deeds of its followers. The fact that some of the words and deeds are on film for all to see is what upsets so many Muslims.

parlaska - you are missing the point of all of this.

Muslims who are not part of the problem, ARE part of the problem through their acquiescence.

It is the muslim denial of what muslims are doing in the name of allah that creates the violence over something as mundane as a cartoon or a documentary using footage of muslim acts and audio of muslim statements.

Do you see Christians or Jews raging in the streets, murdering and burning flags when egregious things are said, or clearly anti Jewish and anti Christian things appear in print or on film?

Of course not. It is because, while there certainly there is violence in the beginnings of all these religions, at some point civilization kicked in.

Not so with islam. That is not the viewpoint of some "islamophobe", hater, or any other ridiculous label attached by the desperate - but rather the view of anyone who is watching world events in an objective manner.

Its hard to hide the violence in Europe, the beheadings, the mutilations, the violent and unforgiving zenophobia, the subjugation of females - the list goes on and on.

It is interesting that the only time islam portrays any from of a religion of peace is after they have crushed any form of alternative social or religious structure.

I would use the kind and gentle acceptance of alternative religions in Saudi or Yemen to illustrate my point.

While muslims occupy the Holy Land and desecrate Christian and Jewish Holy sites - all but muslims are banned from Mecca.

Nice people - those muslims.

Really sort of what Hitler was after. Once all except pure Aryans were cleansed from Teutonic lands - then the glory of the Third Reich could be realized.

But then, civilization kicked in.

Funny how that works.

"In it they affirm their support for freedom of expression, balanced by respect for religious feelings. The question left unanswered is how that balance is to be achieved."

Prof Nielsen: the problem here is not how that balance is to be achieved, because the very root of protection for free speech is that even unsophisticated and disrespectful free speech is protected. You slide in the issue of "respect for religious feelings" as if it were relevant to free speech: it's not. If speech is to remain free, that means that people like the cartoonist at Jyllands-Posten are able to print their cartoons without having to get bodyguards to protect themselves. You seem to have forgotten that the same cartoonist who did the cartoon about the Prophet with the bomb-turban was ALSO taken to task for an earlier cartoon in which he showed Palestinians with yellow stars on their arms. Lots of Danish Jews got upset. Did you see them demonstrating in the street calling for the death of the cartoonist? Did you see Jews in Israel or anywhere else shrieking and screaming for blood and burning Danish flags and calling for jihad against Danes and Denmark? No. The fact is, these people do-not-belong in westernized cultures. They can go back or emigrate to countries where no one will ever insult the Prophet or Allah - of course, their sisters may be gang-raped by the village elders, and then threatened with flogging in the public square for telling their story alone in a room to a male journalist, or see a group of young girls roasted alive as they flee from a burning school because the guard wouldn't let them out without their veils on. And we can all remember how wonderful a life Muslim women had in Afghanistan under the Taliban. Please spare me the conversation that tries to shift this discussion to Israel (how wearisomely familiar a tactic is that) while the same folks ignore Darfur, the corruption of the Saudi and Egyptian regimes, the nonsense coming out of Iran on a daily basis, and scream indignantly that it's just the Zionist-controlled western media that's at fault. The only reason that gang-raped woman wasn't given 100 lashes in public was because the west, the same west that clings to its right of free speech, kicked up a fuss. Let's hear "Simon" tell us all that the Saudis never really imposed that sentence, and the "Zionist controlled media" made it up!

If Muslims want to live in the west, free speech is one of the things they will have to swallow - and that means disrespectful, not particularly polite, sometimes insulting free speech. But to say that "free speech" should somehow be "balanced" by "respect for religious feelings" is already to undermine the free nature of that speech. The reason no balance has been reached, is because there IS no balance possible except on as individual entities exercise their own judgment. But if they choose not to, they still have the right to do so. Any other "balance" (read: someone else deciding what's free and what isn't) is unacceptable and undermines the concept itself. This cannot be tolerated. If Europe is not careful, it will lose hundreds of years of progress as it allows the tail to wag the dog, in a craven boot-licking that will cost far more dearly later on.

If you were me, I guess you would probaby write that "and Allah created the cave" but I would not do that since it would not help to solve anything.

Whether I believe in God or Allah, doesn't matter. I believe in 1 thing that this world does not belong to me and I would pass it to the other generations so I should protect it.

Whatever these fanatic Muslims are or the others doing, they are just destroying the world. As a Muslim originated person I would be agains it. Thats why I don't want anyone think that all Muslims are like those fanatics because it will only create hate and no peace. Please don't help those people that has just hate in their heart.

Nothing wrong with being born in a cave. The one true God was born in a cave - and his name is not allah.

Not all the Muslim's are same. Stop stereotyping please.

How could someone defend an Atom Bomb? So you think that it was the best way to stop tyranny. I wish others are not thinking in the same way as you do, otherwise everyone would do the best for themselves.

To Anonymous

Thats good that you did not born in those caves otherwise probably you would be a fanatic muslim too :)

To Anonymous

Thats good that you did not born in those caves otherwise probably you would be a fanatic muslim too :)

For those who keep bringing up the Jews and Palestine: Would you support kicking the muslims out of Palestine? They are the true occupiers. The Jews and the Christians predate the muslims by some time.

If there is to be a right of return - can there be a right of return to all the people dislocated by force by the muslims?

With regards to the US "occupying" Iraq, the US will be there only as long as the foreign forces (terrorist muslims from terrorist muslim states) are determined to force the Iraqis' hands in forming their future.

Ask the French about the American occupation of France after WWll. Ask the Japanese about the America occupation after WWll. The only Americans occupying those countries rest in graves - after giving their lives to destroy tyranny.

Yes, Truman (a democrat) made the decision to use atomic weapons on Japan. It saved the lives of millions of both Japanese and Americans, which would have been lost during the inevitable invasion - and ENDED the war.

Had we gone into Iraq with the same agenda - crushing the opposition and quickly ending the war - there would probably have been less Iraqis killed, compared to the present total after 5 years - and it would have been over very quickly.

I am not suggesting we should have used nukes - far from it - but we should have used overwhelming, brutal, final force.

But, evidently, the powers that be were afraid of inciting muslim wrath. So, instead, we have a president who is hesitant to use our military for what it was designed and ad nauseum, ad infinitum, tells the world what a religion of peace islam is - while seeing the affects of their butchery, and their absolute preference of attacking and killing civilians.

And now the world cowers in front of the staged, perpetual victim hood of a 7th century bunch of savages.

Where do we go from here? Do we allow these fascist, misogynist, brutal cave people to set the table for the civilized world?

As long as the civilized world is led by neutered, spineless, little boys and girls - it would appear so.

I really feel sorry for the people who have allowed their countries to disarm them and instill a sense of dependence upon their weak and insipid leaders. They are going to pay a heavy price for their depending upon the doctrine of timidity.

Their leaders are too frightened to protect themselves - let alone their constituents - or subjects....

@ Non-Religious

By implying that van Gogh's killer is representative of the second generation of North African muslims, you are making the same mistake as Nora: Something is wrong, and the whole group is guilty.

To Gerard:

"Picking up, and go from whence they came is easily done for many: many muslim youths were born in Europe, they just need to pack and go back to the neighbourhood where they used to live, before they had their current jobs. The Dutch muslim van-Gogh-killer in Wilder's video was born in the Netherlands. He lived exactly there, where he had come from."

This is funky logic. It is a fact that Muslims are immigrating to the West in great numbers. Why do they want to leave their country, culture, religion and general way of life. It seems to me that their way of life, which is largely dictated by their religion, is disagreeable enough to leave it all behind. To say that the Dutch Muslim van-Gogh-killer in Wilder's video was born in the Netherlands indicates clearly the clash of cultures, even for a second generation Muslim. Not very encouraging.

The list of comments to this article, is a nice confirmation of the author's impression of a dialogue of the deaf. Here is my contribution.

@Nora April 1, 2008 11:43 AM

You say

" If Muslims in Europe find our way of life so appalling and insulting to their core beliefs, they should pack up and move back from whence they came.", and talk about " never ending onslaught of "outrage" from Muslims about perceived slights to their "way of life"."

Error : there is no way you can find evidence that Muslims in general, have trouble with our way of life. You are talking about a small minority, and project the problem which we, and muslims, have with it, onto the whole muslim population.

You will not be able to find evidence that the majority of muslims are eternally complaining about perceived slights to their way of life without reason. The majority simply feels bad about it, and tries to vote the right party in the next elections. Simple as that.

Picking up, and go from whence they came is easily done for many: many muslim youths were born in Europe, they just need to pack and go back to the neighbourhood where they used to live, before they had their current jobs. The Dutch muslim van-Gogh-killer in Wilder's video was born in the Netherlands. He lived exactly there, where he had come from.

Needless to say, there is a number of radicals in most EU countries, and fringe groups, which may become susceptible to their ideas. We know that. They are being handled by police and secret service. You may remember that the extremists who planned an attack on UK's Heathrow airport, were tracked by the police, thanks to signs from within the muslim community itself. People (muslims) just had the impression there was someting going on there, which was not right.

If you listen around at schools and in workplaces, you'll notice that most of those dreaded headscarf-wearing muslima's are doing exactly the same thing as all of us in their daily lives, with of course, for some of them, a difference in fashion and food because they practice religion. Or are you bothered that your canteen offers halal next to your own choice of food? You have no obligation to buy it, and if ever you take it by mistake, you wouldn't even taste the difference.

For the mosques, indeed, you have a problem. Freedom of religion is guaranteed in many EU states. I do not know what kind of requests you are confonted with. But as long as proposals comply with building regulations, you will have to give permission, whenever you get a request for permission to construct a mosque. Actually, you do not specify WHY you have had it with petitions for more mosques.

Local costums ? Is there a local custom here of veil-prohibition? Or is Europe a free part of the world where you wear whatever you like ? Even in countries with a lot of hot-headed radicals, most other people understand, if westerners dress in our usual western way.

Actually, we are ahead in this respect. When you visit a major temple in Thailand you are not allowed to go sleeveless as a woman, even when it is hot. In Europe, we have advanced beyond these things. And it works.
Should we return to forcing a particular style upon others, or do we continue being the example of, what we think, is right ??

MY PREDICTION:
In 3008, Muslims will have grown in numbers inside Europe, enough to then demand a separate European Muslim state. The ethically and morally muddled media and intelligentsia will be unable to correctly parse that issue, and will generally go along with the separatist demand- painting it as a unavoidable outcome of a century of religious oppression.

This cultural war is probably only in the 3rd inning, so there's a long way to go. There will be many beanings and bench brawls on the way to the finish line. In the end, we'll all agree to "live and let live", but given how strongly people feel, I don't see us arriving at said end anytime soon. So, let us continue the brawl...

I've tried to post a link to the video. It's being held by the blog owner.

If you want to see it, just google "Fitna", I found that way on several sites.

To Simon: the answer you people always have to reports on how Hamas and Hezbollah talk about Jews is to call the reports "false" and blame the media. Since those cartoons the reports referred to, for example, are demonstrably visible on television in the Middle East, you are, as usual, hiding behind bald-faced lies. The charters of Hamas and Hezbollah are easily available on the Internet - I've read them. Anyone else reading them can see the truth of what these two branches of the Muslim Brotherhood are interested in and what they believe. I repeat: when Muslims and the Muslim world stop operating on a double standard (no mention of what Arab Muslims are doing to black Muslims in Darfur, for example, but obsessional repeats on "Palestine") I might stop and listen. Meanwhile, Europe would do well to cease all Muslim immigration before they lose all their cultures and values. These people only know one way to dialogue: murder and blood.

"The West is hell-bent on denigrating Islam by any way necessary to promote their agenda. I find all this film horrendous blasphemy against Islam and a modern crusade.Mind you, this is gonna pass too."

The West has no need to denigrate Islam. Anyone with any blood in their brains and the ability to read can draw the appropriate conclusions concerning the religion of peace and its precious followers.

First of all, the title is inappropriate "Europe's Muslim "Problem"". Why Muslim's showed as a problem. Lets look this from an another aspect. Who has used the Atom bomb and killed many innocent people? Who could dare to use that kind of bomb? Did Muslim have made this? US invaded Iraq because of a reason that they even couldn't prove. What I see from all those comments that people do not see those kinds of illogical attitudes but instead they attack a religion. You all talk about freedom, but you don't even respect other people's religion, it is ok for you to despise their beliefs and make fun of them. Is this the freedom of speech? There are many cultural differences, not all the people are thinking or behaving the same way. For Muslim’s it is not ok to make fun of their religion or despise their religion. If you respect freedom, please respect their beliefs. I am a Muslim and a woman, and no one had forced me too wear a scarf (I am not wearing it and I am still Muslim) my family always encouraged me for my education and spend most of their earning for that reason. So why should I let you talk about them in this highly mean attitude.

I accept what you see on media about Muslims mostly contains violence in it, but it is not true. Problems start, when people force other people to believe in their religion. This is all true for every religion. Every fanatic religious people does it, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, etc. So please do not insult only Muslim’s. Some Muslim’s misinterpreted their religion and uses fanaticism which I don’t approve. Every man is for themselves. Let the God judge people not the poor creatures like us, so that may be this violence can come to an end.

Usama says
“The Quran has no contradictions; no document in the history of mankind has more internal coherence as the Quran is; there is one and only one Quran: the absolute words of God revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. The bible is mostly authored by men and clerics and hardly resembles the original revelations to Moses and Jesus’”
Two main claims:
1. The alleged internal coherence of the Quran.
2.The Bible does not resemble the Original revelation
Let us discuss the second claim first.
Muslims throw that accusation with out batting an eye even though they have not a single shred of evidence. The Jews and Christians, on the other hand, have many proofs that their scriptures were not tampered with. The scrolls of Qumran(Jordan) and Naja’ Hamadi(Egypt) are the latest scrolls unearthed that show conclusively that not a word was changed. That is beside all those scrolls found in the big Museums of the world such as in London, Rome, Paris and Istanbul. Some claim that the “alterations” happened after Mohammed’s time i.e. after the 7th Century, since their Prophet used to quote from the Bible. But the New and Old Testaments were spread throughout the known world by that time. How could any individual or group introduce changes in all the texts in use? Besides all the stories of the prophets in the Quran are embellished accounts of what is in the Bible. I am not surprised that Muslims do not know much about other religions because the average Muslim does not know much about his religion. Every time you want to carry a dialogue with any of them they will admit their ignorance and refer you to a Muslim cleric.

As to the first claim of no contradictions in the Quran sample the following;

Examples of Internal contradictions:
How many angels were talking to Mary? When the Qur'an speaks about the announciation of the birth of Jesus to the virgin Mary, Sura 3:42,45 speaks about (several) angels while it is only one in Sura 19:17-21. Further numerical discrepancies; Does Allah's day equal to 1,000 human years (Sura 22:47, 32:5) or 50,000 human years (Sura 70:4)? --- According to Sura 56:7 there will be THREE distinct groups of people at the Last Judgment, but 90:18-19, 99:6-8, etc. mention only TWO groups. --- There are conflicting views on who takes the souls at death: THE Angel of Death [32:11], THE angels (plural) [47:27] but also "It is Allah that takes the souls (of men) at death." [39:42] Angels have 2, 3, or 4 pairs of wings [35:1]; but Gabriel had 600 wings. [Sahih Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 54, Number 455]

Examples of External Contradictions:
And We have (from of old), adorned the lowest heaven with lamps,
and we have made such (Lamps as) missiles to drive away Satans, ...
-- Sura 67:5
We have indeed decked the lower heaven with beauty (in) the stars,
(for beauty) and for guard against all obstinate rebellious Satans.
(So) they should not strain their ears in the direction of the Exalted Assembly but be cast away from every side.
-- Sura 37:6-8
See also Suras 15:16-18, 55:33-35 etc. which seem to speak about the same thing.
The stars are closer to Earth than the planets and were created by Allah as missiles to throw at the devils? In order to not let them eavesdrop on the heavenly council? Not exactly a "scientific" world view.

Example of Historical Contradictions:
The Qur'an says that the calf worshipped by the Israelites at mount Horeb was molded by a Samaritan (Sura 20:85-87, 95-97). Yet the term `Samaritan' was not coined until 722 B.C., which is several hundred years after the events recorded in Exodus. Thus, the Samaritan people could not have existed during the life of Moses, and therefore, could not have been responsible for molding the calf.

"According to the Quran (Surah 18:89-98) Alexander the Great was a devout Muslim and lived to a ripe old age. Historical records however show that Alexander the Great died young at 33 years of age (356 - 323 B.C.), and believed he himself was divine, forcing others to recognize him as such. In India on the Hyphasis River (now Beas) Alexander erected twelve altars to twelve Olympian gods.
Once again the Quran shows errors in historical and religious fact.

There are plenty more from where these came and will be glad to cite many more.

judaism, christianity and Islam are all full of uncivized entreaties to their followers.
People should study Budhism, jainism and hinduism to know the difference between maturing of religious philosophy with time. Hinduism is thousands of yearsold and permitted a philosophical interpretation and that helps many followers to avoid bigotry. There are eeptions ,but they are a small minority. Perhaps Islam Should learn from Hinduism, at least in allowing open discusiions instead of damning any criticism , with threats of violr=ence

I completely concur with John and Non-Religious. If Muslims in Europe find our way of life so appalling and insulting to their core beliefs they should pack up and move back from whence they came. I have absolutely had it with the constant petitions to construct yet more and bigger Mosques, the never ending onslaught of "outrage" from Muslims about perceived slights to their "way of life". Well, if you currently reside in a EU country then THAT'S your way of life. It would never even occur to me to move to another country and expect them to adhere to my native culture and/or religion. When visiting Egypt I didn't wear my hair long and open; I covered it with a hat out of respect for local customs. Show us some of the same courtesy.

The Washington Post will not let me post the film links on this blog. Thats what I call Islamic.

QQ wrote:
OK Insult the muslims any which way you want, but how about doing a smidgen of justice in Palestine? How about un-occupying Iraq?
-------------------------------------------------
That is a very good point. If we each left the other alone the world would be a more peaceful place.

Saw the picture in today's WP about a young girl and her grandfather strafed to death in Iraq by our forces? Oh! Don't worry. They are just muslims. Must be Islamofascists.

OK Insult the muslims any which way you want, but how about doing a smidgen of justice in Palestine? How about un-occupying Iraq?

Understanding the problem is simple. If a segment of any of the organized religions of the world behaved like Muslim extremists, there would be mass protests on every street in every nation denouncing the extremists. They would all be shouting "Not in our name!"

Where are all those tolerant Muslims? I begin to feel that the posting signed "Mohammed the Prophet" is more true than anyone is willing to admit. Get them goats.

When Pastor Jeremiah Wright made a misrepresentaion of Christianity, almost all Christians were appalled by his diatribe. Nobody was angry over who uploaded that video on the net.

On the other hand, when some muslims "misrepresented " Islam and somebody (Wilder) uploaded them on the net, what we see are all muslims clamoring for the head of Mr.Wilder. What did Mr. Wider do? He just compiled the video so you muslims would censure those people who are "misrepresenting" you.

All of muslims' reaction mirror those of the barbarians seen in those videos. Instead of making speeches condemning those barbaric act, they are all clamoring for Mr.Wilder to be punished. WHAT COULD BE MORE STUPID THAN THAT?

I think there would come a time when after all the dust of the coming greatest war settles down, the surviving muslims will burn the book which caused all this Grandest Stupidity to occur.

Four Critical Points to be noted by Muslims and non-Muslims alike:
one: As a Muslim,I Lived and worked in Holland-Amsterdam and Bergen an Zee-and found the Dutch people really nice,liberal, freindly and accomodating. This deranged Wilders deos not at all reflect the truth about the Dutch people and he certainly is doing more harm to Holland than to Muslims.The Dutch government ought to legislate laws not gag the press or the freedoms of experssion but hate crimes, racism, disturbance of the civil peace and insulting any faith,Islam, Christianity etc.

two:Mulsim should not fall into the trap of reacting violently at all:that is exactly what this "film" is after,to incite Violnece and then turn around and blame on Muslims and say:"I told u the Quran teaches violnce."

three:Muslims should follow in the steps of the Holy Prophet;what would he had done if confornted with this situtation?? I am sure he would at least do two things:
(1)Quote the Quran:Al Qasas, 28: 55, “The righteous say:” And when they hear VAIN TALK, they turn away there from and say: “To us our deeds, and to you yours; Peace be to you: We seek not the ignorant.”
(2)He would remind the Muslim Faithful of the story of the Jewish boy who was his neighbour which I will sum up,first by stating a verse from the Quran about turning the other cheek:

Fussilat, 41:42, : “Nor can goodness and evil be equal. Repel evil with what is better: then will he between whom and thee was hatred become as it were thy friend and intimate!” The following story illustrates the exemplary character of the Prophet as it sheds light on the meaning of the above verse:
"The Prophet used to have a Jewish neighbour boy who would habitually throw dirt and garbage at him-at the Prophet-every time he passed by the neighbourhood; the Prophet’s response was always to turn the other cheek and pray for the guidance of the boy; one day the Prophet passed by without the usual bombardment of garbage from the Jewish boy, so he wondered what had happened to him-when he found out that the boy had fallen ill. The Prophet immediately went and visited the mischievous boy at his home to enquire about his health and wish him well-to the astonishment of the shocked boy who hid his head under the bed covers so as not to look him in the eye because he was so embarrassed by his behaviour and regretted it; the Prophet invited the sick boy at his death bed to accept Islam for his own salvation, when the boy glanced at his father who was at his bedside to get a green light from him and where the father nodded affirmatively and told the boy to go along with the Prophet and repeat after him the confession of faith:” There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger.”
Let us emulate the example of the Prophet/pbuh.

four,which is the most important of my points is: As Muslims we should look at this blunder as an opportunity to show the true face of Islam by holding Media events on TV, the Press and the internet as well as writing to the Dutch governemnt and Pariliment and by holding peaecful-I mean really peaceful-and Silent demonstrations in Amesterdam and other European cities to protest such blunders.

The Dutch and Danish governmnets can not keep hiding behind "freedom of expression," instead they should legisltae to put an end to such hate crimes and incitemnet and abuse-they can do it.

Dear European Muslims,

If you are offended by western ways and western laws, and wish to live by Sharia perhaps you should think about moving back to the Middle East where this is the accepted way of life. Why is this such a difficult concept? When we are in your countries we are expected to show respect and assimilate to your way of life, which is completely understandable. Just remember, that works both ways.

Baloney. This issue is not failure to listen to each other, but intolerance by Muslims. They expect nonbelievers to act as believers, to revere as believers, to hold sacred that which they hold sacred, and to act in a manner that in no way offends their beliefs. That is simply BS. Religious "freedom" includes freedom not to be religious, and as such a nonbeliever has no duty of treat as sacred someone else's beliefs. For years Roman Catholics labeled films and books as basically "off limits" because they were in conflict with, or mocked, fundamental Catholic beliefs. Fine; don't go to them. I don't recall the Church ever advocating that they bomb movie theaters or kill film directors though. Many Muslims are completely different. They believe that violent responses should be invoked to force the infidel to repent for his actions, and while the argument may be made that these violent few taint the nonviolent many, it is also true that the nonviolent many Muslims stand by in silence and let these violent few become the spokesmen for them. Why? Because though they would not do the dirty deed themselves, they believe it is good nonethless.

Usman II wrote:

It is ironic that one can see Jihadi videos on web but not so called 'anti Islam' film. It tells us something about fear Islamists have created in western world.
-------------------------------------------------
Well said my friend. Islam is in need of a reformation, they have been in the 7th century for far too long. The double standard they demand is laughable at best.

I like to reply to the lady talking how Muslims talk about JEWS. Have you seen how JEWS in the occupied land of PALESTINE talk about Muslims and even Christians???
When you get your facts together, then you can post your comments. Your views are shaped by the false media that works for Israli cause and nothing else

"BH:

I totally agree that belief in any and all religions needs to be put to the test of logic and see whether it stands."

It has already been done many times over and the result is always the same: fairy tales.

"But the debate needs to be serious and focused, cartoons and callous, wholesale assignment of blame to a religion and people is hardly objective or intelligent and serves no purpose whatsoever."

Once the violence stops so will the cartoons.

With all due respect, Professor, Muslims are NOT talking "respect for the sacred". They are talking bending over backwards to kow tow to THEIR sacred. I have also noticed that the Muslim world is less than respectful toward the sacredness of OTHERS. Just take a look at today's article in the New York TIMES about the way Hamas and Hezbollah talk about Jews - not Israelis, Professor: JEWS. They demand total respect for themselves but tolerate the spreading of extreme hatred toward others. When the Muslim world shows itself to be a bit less hypocritical toward the sensibilities of others, and recognizes that when Muslims move to western countries, they have to adjust to their new lands, not the other way around, I'll listen to their point of view. In the meantime, from where I sit, Muslim outrage looks extremely selective. We don't kill people over cartoons in the west. I have little respect for a sense of the "sacred" that thinks murder over cartoons in a country where free speech is a mantra, is perfectly all right.

One of the arguments some Muslims are making is ‘so and so Christian leader 100s of years ago was vey intolerant. And when West ruled Muslim world, they exploited them’. It is all true and nobody is denying these facts. Howe ever what it has to do with 2008?

India and China were similarly exploited and look what they are doing now?

Another thing: ad nauseum reference to Quran . What about your own thoughts about freedom, humanity and rights of other to chose or change religions? Do you think a Muslim who embraces Buddhism should be killed as Quran dictates?