http://english.pravda.ru/topic/Muhammad-19/
Exhibition of Prophet Muhammad cartoons to be organized in Moscow
??????? /
The Director of Sakharov Museum and Public Center, Yury Samodurov, stated
on the set of the 25th Hour TV program aired on February 2nd that the center
was ready to organize a public exhibition of the entire series of Prophet
Muhammad caricatures. The recent publication of the cartoons in the Danish
press has unexpectedly resulted in the most outrageous and unusual
international scandals of recent times.
"It is neither Saudi Arabia nor Sudan here. It is a secular state," a
well known human rights activist said. It is worthy of note that Mr. Samodurov
has been recently convicted by a Moscow court for organizing "Be Careful -
Religion" art show. The event, the participants of which used items of the
Orthodox religion only, was meant to incite religious strife in Russia . "We
must show the whole world that Russia goes along with Europe , that the freedom
of expression is much more important for us than the dogmas of religious
fanatics," Samodurov said.
Leonid Gozman from the Union of Right Forces, Elena Bonner, Academician
Sakharov's widow and lawyer Yury Shmidt have supported the idea to organize the
art show of Prophet Muhammad caricatures. Mr. Shmidt said that he would be
willing to defend those "suffering from the political persecution of the
authorities" free of charge.
The art show of the controversial Prophet Muhammad caricatures is said to
take place in Moscow in the middle of March. Yury Shmidt has invited a
prominent figure of French liberalism Andre Glucksmann and a notorious writer
Michel Houellebecq (the author of the controversial novel The Elementary
Particles) to read lectures about the threat of Islamic fundamentalism at the
opening ceremony. Gluksman and Houellebecq are said to initiate a republication
the Russian translation of Salman Rushdie's novel Satanic Verses. The new
version of the book is expected to be illustrated with the scandalous cartoons
originally published in Denmark. The Russian translation of Rushdie's novel was
originally going to be published in 1998. However, the book was not meant to
see the light because of ardent protests from the religious society (both
Muslim and Orthodox clergy) in Russia.
The final decision about the event is to be made in two weeks when all
questions about purchasing the copyright for the notorious cartoons are solved.
Sakharov's Center intends to use the drawings for a permanent exposition to
start Russia's first collection of liberal art of that ilk. "I have nothing
against caricatures of Muhammad, Buddah, Jesus Christ, Moses or myself," Mr.
Samodurov said ironically.
A Muslim man praying
Sakharov's Center constant sponsors, which funded the "Be careful -
Religion" exhibition in 2003, are ready to provide the necessary financial
assistance for the scheduled and the permanent art shows of religious political
satire. The list of sponsors includes such well known figures and foundations
as Boris Berezovsky, Vladimir Gusinsky and the Soros Fund. If other permanent
sponsors of Sakharov's Center (including John and Catherine McArthur Foundation
and Henry Jackson Foundation) support the initiative to arrange a public art
show of Prophet Muhammad cartoons, there will probably be a complete catalogue
of the exposition published. Andre Glucksmann and Michel Houellebecq will write
comments for the catalogue that is to be distributed free of charge in largest
libraries and high schools of Russian regions.
Roman Svetlov
Elektorat Info
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~-->
Join modern day disciples reach the disfigured and poor with hope and healing
http://us.click.yahoo.com/lMct6A/Vp3LAA/i1hLAA/aYWolB/TM
--------------------------------------------------------------------~->
Milis Wanita Muslimah
Membangun citra wanita muslimah dalam diri, keluarga, maupun masyarakat.
Situs Web: http://www.wanita-muslimah.com
ARSIP DISKUSI : http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wanita-muslimah/messages
Kirim Posting mailto:wanita-muslimah@yahoogroups.com
Berhenti mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Milis Keluarga Sejahtera mailto:keluarga-sejahtera@yahoogroups.com
Milis Anak Muda Islam mailto:majelismuda@yahoogroups.com
This mailing list has a special spell casted to reject any attachment ....
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wanita-muslimah/
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
