Militant Islam Monitor > Articles > Muslims attack cartoonist Lars Vilks during free speech lecture
Muslims attack cartoonist Lars Vilks during free speech lecture
May 13, 2010
Swedish Mohammed cartoonist attacked during free speech lecture
A Swedish cartoonist whose sketch of the Prophet Mohammed enraged many Muslims, was attacked while giving a lecture about freedom of speech.
The Daily Telegraph (London)Published: 9:23PM BST 11 May 2010
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/sweden/7712700/Swedish-Mohammed-cartoonist-attacked-during-free-speech-lecture.html
A spokesman for Uppsala police said about 20 people tried to attack Mr Vilks after interrupting his lecture Photo: AP
Lars Vilks, who depicted the Prophet Mohammad with the body of a dog in 2007, said he was headbutted by a man sitting on the front row as he spoke at the University of Uppsala, about 44 miles from Stockholm.
"He head-butted me and I fell into the wall and lost my glasses," Mr Vilks said. He added he was unharmed.
A spokesman for Uppsala police said about 20 people tried to attack Mr Vilks after interrupting his lecture, adding that the police had to intervene to stop them. Two people were detained.
Mr Vilks was not immediately available to comment further. He says he has received death threats since his Prophet sketch.
In March an American who called herself "JihadJane," was charged with plotting to kill the Swede and using the Internet to enlist co-conspirators.
In January, a Somali man was indicted for terrorism and attempted murder for breaking into the home of Danish cartoonist Kurt Westergaard and threatening him with an axe.
A cartoon by Westergaard in 2005 which depicted the Prophet Mohammad with a turban shaped like a bomb sparked outrage across the Muslim world, with at least 50 people killed in riots in the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
Most Muslims consider any depiction of the founder of Islam as offensive. The creators of South Park attracted controversy after depicting the Prophet Mohammed in a bear costume during an episode. A radical Islamic website warned Trey Parker and Matt Stone that they could face violent retribution.
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