Wed 19 Sep 2007
Sent by RK
Given the furore raised by the Mullahs about the Muhammad Biral (Cat) joke and the subsequent arrest of the cartoonist by the bangladesh Govt and abject grovelling by the Prothom Alo (leading Bengali newspaper) Management by apologizing in writing and sacking the Magazine sub-editor responsible for publishing the joke!
It is interesting to see that the Mullahs and their student arm themselves published a similar joke a few years ago in one of their publications. the Prothom Alo joke is at the bottom
A joke published in Islami Chatra Shibir*’s Magazine
November 1998 Edition Page 87
Under Children’s Voices
Courtesy of Somewhere in Blog
See details:
http://www.somewhereinblog.net/blog/sujonmcblog/28732243
Teacher: Kalu what is your father’s name?
The Boy Kalu: Sadek
Teacher: You impertinent boy! You should say Mohammed before a name.
A few days later
Teacher: Kalu what has your mother cooked at home for dinner today?
Boy: Mohammed Kodu (Pumpkin)
Sent in by Muhammad Masud
MMEC Madrassa, Feni
*Islami Chatra Shibir is the student arm of the Islamic Fundamentalists in Bangladesh
Yesterday’s front page of Prothom Alo carried a retraction of a cartoon in yesterday’s Alpin, their humor section for impertinently associating the prophet’s good name with an animal. It shows a man in a tupi (cap) talking to a boy with a cat in his arms. It goes something like this:
Man: What is your name?
Boy: Babu
Man: You should say Mohammed before a name. What is your father’s name?
Boy: Mohammed Abu
Man: What is that in your arms?
Boy: Mohammed Biral (cat)
September 20th, 2007 at 12:18 am
This is great ! Somebody should show it to them.
September 20th, 2007 at 12:56 am
Admin, how are you so sure that none other than your so-called “Islamic Fundamentalist” are hurt with that cartoon? Or the cartoon is just JI issue? Have you also assumed that JI represents the Muslims in BD? How many Muslims have read any Shibir publication compared to PA? And, this is your third post on a single topic!
September 20th, 2007 at 1:33 am
and all the publicity for this?
September 20th, 2007 at 7:37 am
Its all nonsense. Its like making a mountain out of a molehill!
I am sure the prophet (PBUH) who was so magnaninous too would have laughed at it! After all the cat was his most favorite pet.
And there is a story that he did not get up from bed after awakening as the cat was deep asleep on his arm. He waited till the cat woke up.
For a man who was lion-hearted and colossal in stature it must be a trivial matter.
The mullah factor will always be there as it had been since the Dark Ages.
Hope the mullahs within the CTG don’t beat up the reporter. John Gastright talks about human rights but fully backs the CTG. Double standard and hypocrisy are deeply ingrained in US policy matters. Oil and money only matters!
Did you see the jamati crocs of 1971 throwing a party in honour of the diplomats. While the two ladies (with one of whom the jamaatis coexisted shamelessly a few months back) are in jail the two bearded demons were entertaining the foreigners. And the foreign folks were enjoying the grand iftar party!
September 20th, 2007 at 8:57 am
It is an insult to both Islam and Bangladesh that we allow such a non-issue to bring disrepute to us. We are letting a group of small minded bigots dictate what should be our rights of speech!
Prothom Alo’s Arifur Rahman should be freed immediately.
September 20th, 2007 at 9:51 am
There is difference between the joke published in Shibir Magazine and Alpin- Mohammad Kodu and Mohammad Cat.In any case both were wrong. If say in India any Hindu would have sismilar joke abt their dieties like say Krishna cat or Sarawsatai cat– the guy by this time would have become mince meat–no doubt about that.Smiliarly Christians would do the same–there r fundamentalists amongsts them having no less traits then the Shiv Senas in India or our Talebans.
The cartoonists on the other hand was educated and could have avoided this one which comes quite in the heels of the Mohammad Cartoon published in Denmark– am sure this cartoonist n journalists in our country were all aware of it– Bottom line is one should avoid any RELIGION BASED CARTOON- no one likes it.
Anyway here is a joke that should cool everyone here:-
A lady approaches a priest and tells him, “Father, I have a problem . I have these two talking female parrots, but they only know how to say one thing. They keep saying “Hi, we’re hot. Do you want a date?”
“That’s terrible!” the priest exclaimed. “But I do have a solution to your problem. Bring your two parrots over to my house and I will put them with my two male talking parrots to whom I have taught to pray and read the bible.
My parrots will then teach your parrots to stop saying that terrible phrase, and your female parrots will learn to pray and worship.”
So the next day, the lady brings her female parrots to the priest’s house. The priest’s two male parrots are holding rosary beads and praying in their cage. The lady puts her female talking parrots in with the male alking Parrots, and the female parrots say, ” Hi, we’re hot. Do you want a date?”
One male parrot looks over at the other male parrot and screams, ” Put your Bible away Idiot, our prayers have been answered!!!!!!!”
******
The bottom line is not Arrests but to speak to them in their own language that should shame them too–Hope all are enjoying the Ramadan days.
September 20th, 2007 at 2:34 pm
Latest update is that CTG is preparing to file case against Motiur Rahman. This also reflects faction fight w/in CTG as Motiur Rahman is close to some elements in army, but not all elements inside CTG.
Also Barrister Mainul Hossein is pushing this issue very hard as he, as part of Ittefaq family, will gain tremendous financial gain if Prothom Alo is taken down.
CTG also sees is as a golden gift to distract everyone from DU crisis, price hike, inflation.
Calmer heads are trying to talk CTG out of it, but I don’t think they will prevail. Most likely case would be filed Fri/Sat.
And the great Bangla distraction game will continue. If you cannot eat three meals a day, do not worry, we will distract you with religion.
Shame on these people who exploit religion for politics. Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) would cast these people out from his followers first and foremost.
September 20th, 2007 at 5:15 pm
I think we do disservice to what has actually happened when we frame the issue as a debate over censorship or over hypocrisy. Arif’s case is about nothing less than truth and lies, and an innocent man being sent to jail.
http://addafication.com/2007/09/20/sheen-ha-dal/
September 20th, 2007 at 6:12 pm
The only thing I can say is “unbelievable”, even more astounding is the way the CTG is pandering to the Islamist, imagine if this was done by a person from the minority community or for that matter falsely accused of, then there would be riots across the country, this herd mentality will destroy the Country. I wonder if the west would still call us a moderate Muslim country
September 20th, 2007 at 6:38 pm
1. Eid issue of Shaptahik 2000 banned
The government has banned the Eid issue of Bangla-language weekly magazine Shaptahik 2000, a top official said Thursday. Home secretary Abdul Karim told bdnews24.com that the Eid edition of the magazine had carried an article “offensive to religious sensibilities”. The autobiographical article written by Daud Haider, self-exiled in Germany, is at the heart of the controversy. The acting editor of the magazine, Golam Mortoza, told bdnews24.com: “I heard about it. But we didn’t get any official order.” He said the magazine authorities had decided to take the Eid issue off the newsstands, taking into account the “confusion it might have created”.
http://bdnews24.com
2. “Blasphemous Cat” Cartoon Controversy Escalates
*Cartoonist arrested
http://rumiahmed.wordpress.com/2007/09/18/bangladesh-cartoonist-arrested/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7003514.stm
*Two cases filed in Chittagong and Comilla against the editor, publisher and freelance cartoonist of Prothom Alo. Patiya Al Jameya Al Islam Madrasa administrative officer Mohammad Reza filed the case that also cited “elements of sedition” in the publication of a controversial cartoon strip.
“The accused made an ill-attempt to destroy discipline in the country and jeopardise development efforts of the government.”
*Plaintiff demands arrest warrant against Prothom Alo editor Matiur Rahman, its publisher Mahfuz Anam and contributing cartoonist Arifur Rahman
*Dhaka Court bans ALPIN magazine The Dhaka district magistrate has suspended the Prothom Alo’s satire magazine Aalpin, three days after it ran a controversial cartoon strip “hurting religious sensibilities”. In an order, the magistrate informed its publisher that the publication of the cartoon story violated the Printing Press and Publications (Declaration and Registration) Act 1973.
3. AJKER KAGOJ newspaper shuts down
4. CSB (country’s first 24 hour news channel) shut down by government order
5. JANAKANTHA editor in jail
6. Govt Issues “Guidelines” for Talk Shows
http://rumiahmed.wordpress.com/2007/09/20/the-soviet-republic-of-bangladesh/
September 20th, 2007 at 7:57 pm
ekdik theke valoi holo - shashok-gosTir mukhosh khuley zacche.
September 21st, 2007 at 12:29 am
I think reader will find the best analysis in the following thread:
http://www.e-bangladesh.org/2007/09/20/attack-against-freedom-of-speech-bangladesh-cartoon-controversy-update
September 21st, 2007 at 3:43 am
Protom Alo editor Motiur Rahman grabs hand of Baiyul Mokarram khatib Obaidur Rahman to “beg forgiveness”, in a meeting brokered by Mainul Hossein.
http://dailynayadiganta.com/newsimg%5Cpicture_43367.jpg
September 21st, 2007 at 3:49 am
Just got hold of copy of Shaptahik 2000 that was banned by gov’t yesterday.
Daud Haider’s line is a lot more damaging than the cartoon and we should perhaps be grateful that govt banned it. Much as we may want free speech, all this is a gift for maulvis who are flexing muscles and guaranteeing they will get nice share of post Dec 08 power sharing agreement.
[Translated]
September 21st, 2007 at 6:08 am
I’m with Nij on this one. This is something I found personally offensive, much more so than the cartoon. However, I’m not a fan of censorship, so I’m advocating it in this case either.
It was very stupid of S2000 to have printed this at such a time. Oh, and while I stand up for the author’s right to express himself, I’ll probably never buy his books:).
September 21st, 2007 at 8:40 am
I believe in freedom of speech, but find Daud Haider’s piece offensive and provocative.
I don’t think Govt. should censor/ban something only because the writings ‘may hurt somebody’, but because the writings may create unrestness in the society.
September 21st, 2007 at 10:26 am
Monopoly of the word “offended”:
One of the overused word in this thread was”offended”,
getting hurt or offended is basically an emotional
state and rationality shouldnt be invoked to explain that.
I understand this part.
But this emotion of getting offended can not be a
monopoly of any specific group. Belief in god is a choice,anyone has the right
not to believe in any god.
Now count how many times in all of the
three monotheistic organised religious holy books they call for
death of the unbelievers and those pagans.
Does these people who are atheist or pagans have the right
to get offended for the publication of all
these holy books?
They share the same emotional faculty to get offended with
the people who follow one of these three religions.
Should they call for ban of publication of all these holy books?
Is it because they are minority in this world their”getting hurt” is less hurtful?
September 21st, 2007 at 1:47 pm
Being an (offended) atheist or a steadfast believer of any faith and being disrespectful are two entirely different things. And books are not the domain of just the three major monotheistic religions. A Muslim may not actually believe in the content of the Bhagavad Gita, but that does not mean that he/she should damage it to demonstrate and thereby offend Hindus in the process.
This entire cartoon business has spiralled dangerously out of control. Extremists are using it to gain popularity and easily influenced people who either can’t apply logic and reasoning or won’t because they’re not used to it are now trying to damage property and endanger lives. While the cartoon may not have been in the best taste and the timing was certainly bad (this is now being seen as sedition…sheesh!), the message does not seem to have been disrespect to the Prophet. Considering the (intention or unintentional) offence caused, an apology should have sufficed. Freedom of expression is important, but few would endorse it if someone were to start shouting, “This building’s on fire!” in the middle of a packed theatre if there was no such fire. The point is that all people should question their own actions when exercising their freedoms (the cartoonist, the editor, the khatib, the guy on the street demonstrating, the blog poster, all of us).
While people’s sensibilities should have been taken into account, the sacking of the PA Editor (and the ridiculous grovelling that followed), the arrest of the cartoonist and the involvement of the government (which should have better and more relevant things to do) is alarming. To compare this cartoon to the blatantly offensive ones printed in Scandinavia is also unfair. How ridiculous is it that when religious leaders should be calling for peace and prayer they are inciting unrest and calling for people’s heads. I worry more for our country every day.
September 21st, 2007 at 2:16 pm
Oh, and now there are “guidelines” for talk shows in Bangladesh! One of them “asks” producers to consider only businessmen, educationists and intellectuals as potential guests because, of course, they are the most representative of the “common (wo)man”. This hapless cartoonist needs to be freed. And the government needs to get back to doing what it’s actually meant to be doing.
September 22nd, 2007 at 2:28 am
[...] decision to jail the young man for retelling a joke that even Islamists themselves have published [...]
September 22nd, 2007 at 4:56 am
[...] decision to jail the young man for retelling a joke that even Islamists themselves have published before: Alpin’s controversial cartoon seems to have been a product of the pseudo-liberal [...]
September 22nd, 2007 at 11:28 am
[...] Dristipat here and here Mash In the Middle of Nowhere Dhaka [...]
September 22nd, 2007 at 11:52 am
It’s one of those troubling ironies of life: The more offensive you are as a person, the more easily you are likely to get offended.
September 28th, 2007 at 4:22 pm
Mullahs by definition are hypocrites.
September 29th, 2007 at 9:38 am
Admin please remove the hypocrite remark. It’s factually incorrect and a irrelevant contribution to this discussion.