Evening Buzz: Radical Islamic Website Warns 'South Park' Creators
Maureen Miller
AC360° Writer
A radical Muslim website is taking on the TV cartoon "South Park", after an episode that aired last week depicted the Prophet Mohammed dressed in a bear suit.
Those who run Revolutionmuslim.com, based in New York, issued a warning on the website on Sunday to the “South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone. "They will probably wind up like Theo van Gogh for airing this show. This is not a threat, but a warning of the reality of what will likely happen to them," the posting said.
Van Gogh, a Dutch filmmaker, was stabbed to death on a street in Amsterdam by a Muslim extremist in 2004. He became the target of radical Muslims after releasing a short documentary depicting the oppression of Muslim women in Europe. Revolutionmuslim.com included a graphic photo of van Gogh at the time of his death in the posting.
Over the photo of van Gogh, Parker, Stone and others you hear the audio of a sermon by the radical U.S.-born preacher Anwar al-Awlaki, who is thought to be hiding in Yemen. The sermon, recorded some time ago, talks about assassinating those who have "defamed" the Prophet Mohammed.
Tonight on the program, Anderson will talk with Ayaan Hirsi Ali. She was working with van Gogh on the controversial movie that led to his assassination six year ago. Hear what she has to say about this latest controversy.
Also tonight, the son of actor Michael Douglas faces five years in prison for dealing methamphetamine and cocaine.
Cameron Douglas, 31, pleaded guilty to the charges in January. Before being sentencing today in a New York courtroom, his father and his stepmother Catherine Zeta-Jones wrote personal pleas to the judge asking for leniency and revealing the private pain of a famous family. We’ll have those details.
Join us for these stories and much more starting at 10 p.m. ET. See you then.
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Filed under: Maureen Miller • The Buzz |
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Obviously "Big fan of AC 360" is not a big fan of South Park or he/she would know that there is no "double standard" at all. The creators of South Park only depicted Mohammed in a bear suit because of the pressure put on the world's media (including the Comedy Channel it would seem) by Muslims to not show any images of their prophet. The bear suit was a rather cute, mildly amusing, and relatively inoffensive way around the restriction. Free speech in the USA is indeed protected in all cases, even when it involves images and or speech that offends Christians or people from any religion for that matter. You can poke fun at anything, including Jesus, God, the Buddha, etc. The only time one's right to free speech is trumped is when it presents an imminent threat to someone. Even so-called "hate speech" is still protected in the USA in most cases.
Why is it that inciting to riot is a crime but inciting to murder is not? It is time we criminalize the advocacy of murder in the name of religion. Muslim's religious freedom stops when they advocate killing people.
Its disappointing to see the countering of radical vocies with another radical voice of Ayaan Hirsi Ali. One thing her and revolutionislam have in common is that both are known to have false information about Islam, and both are successful in promoting Islamophobia, and making it harder for the vast majority of Muslims.
I was raised a Muslim, but now am aware that religions as a whole is a main problem in our modern world. Moreover I also believe humans should have one main goal to work on improving their life and forwarding it, not create some silly cartoons that are likely to create more problems in the world. You can say your mother is a big bear, but if saying that about my mother knowing its wrong would bring you and the world more troubles, I don't see why say it in the first place.
Have you ever seen a holocaust making fun episode on south park ? No, and you probably never will , I don't blame anyone because its the right thing to do. Just follow your conscience and don't miss use laws that are made for the well being of humans in the first place.
Give peace a Chance ~john lennon
PS: the teddy bear idea was funny, but did it have to be Muhammed ?
@Big Fan of AC,
You've clearly never watched South Park. They HAVE mocked the things you've address (Child Porn, Jesus, etc). There is a difference between offending and outraging a group; and having a group THREATEN you in response.
South Park makes fun of every religion, race, and ethnicity. No one should take any of this personally. South Park exists only for entertainment. If this group of radical Muslims does not like America and does not agree with free speech, they should leave.
The show south park is just a cartoon, I think the radicals are going way overboard with this. Regardless of free speech.
one should Pay respect and earn respect, please don't heart any body feelings in the name of freedom of speech.
Hats off to Matt and Trey! It took two cartoonist to stand up for our rights against an evil empire of zealots and murders.
Let's start a "Draw Mohammad Day!"
Everyone on earth ought to pen a cartoon of Mohammad and publish it any way they can.
Also: even though I am at a financially blue-collar level cartoonist/artist/writer/dog walker/caregiver type chick I will charge on my VISA a plane ticket to any Muslim who hates America and lives here - well, on condition they never return! That debt would be totally worth it, even at a raised APR!
It never ceases to astound me how much western nations are willing to tolerate radical islamist groups within their own borders.
Unlike the catholics, the protestants, the baptists and others religious groups who tolerate or ignore jokes aimed at their beliefs, the muslims react with threats of violence or death.
I would expect such intolerance from a muslim who's only education has been the study of the Koran and nothing else, but these people are living in America amongst you and many are actually products of the American education system. You should be sending them off to live somewhere else....with good riddance. If not, it will inevitably be at your own peril I fear. It also should be said that South Park is of course in bad taste, and it has always been thus....but in the words of so many who defend bad taste, "if you dont like it, dont watch it".
I am a Muslim and you can anytime put me on the record to clearly condemn Jihadist philosophy. I have been in a number of Leadership positions in Muslim organizations and also represent my faith.
South Park has been one of the most explicit and brash shows of our time. As one who has had many laughs over the years with the shows explosive harsh and blatantly vulgar demeanor.
However South Park is a television show that is legally aired and I think that no matter what your belief or feeling on the show there is choice here in America and that pertains to the right to choose to view such shows or not to view them. I have seen the show plenty over the years, Not the biggest fan but I don't allow a comedy skit to alter my sense of self or belief.
I certainly have values and morals I could understand those of religious faith to be upset with the shows slander, Though I believe that making a choice to threaten, or harm another person over a specific negative action such as this in the cartoon to be nothing less than a selfish act of violence and nothing short of evil. A bad joke one can take back in apology an act of murder is something one never comes back from !
Simply if you do not like the laws here then I suggest leave this country before you decide to act out in an even more ungodly manor
I feel that if the Muslim community is so offended by a cartoon, why are they not so offended by the actions of the terrorists operating in their name. Until the so called non terror supporting Muslims rise up against their own, I have no sympathy and feel that they are a threat to all that don't share their beliefs and ultimately the ones that do too!
I think that the show South Park is a meant to be taken lightly. Although the show is very rude and degrading I think that these terrorists are far worse by admitting their guilt in how wrong they handle the choices they are threatening to make.
The Muslim group is in NY ? Why is the group even here ? What does the group do that is positive ? The man interviewed on the news from the group said clearly that he feels that the acts that took place on 9/11/2001 were justified and that he felt were not wrong !
Who are these neighbors of ours ? Just think, the Patriot Act allows complete exploitation of our every right as citizens of this country, yet these Radicals can come here and do as they please and our country allows this to take place. They want our opinions to stir up drama.
Hi Anderson love the show. It's ridiculous south park has always tried to push buttons with everyone all they are doing is making fun on not being able to show muhamed
South Park has been one of the most explicit and brash shows of our time. As one who has had many laughs over the years with the shows explosive harsh and blatantly vulgar demeanor.
However South Park is a television show that is legally aired and I think that no matter what your belief or feeling on the show there is choice here in America and that pertains to the right to choose to view such shows or not to view them. I have seen the show plenty over the years, Not the biggest fan but I don't allow a comedy skit to alter my sense of self or belief.
I certainly have values and morals I could understand those of religious faith to be upset with the shows slander, Though I believe that making a choice to threaten, or harm another person over a specific negative action such as this in the cartoon to be nothing less than a selfish act of violence and nothing short of evil. A bad joke one can take back in apology an act of murder is something one never comes back from !
Simply if you do not like the laws here then I suggest leave this country before you decide to act out in an even more ungodly manor !
we muslims will not allow anybody to make such cartoons either of MOHAMAMD(pbuh) or of JESUS or of ABRAHIM or of ADAM...
we respect freedom of speech..but its not freedom of speech..
a professor asking and teaching students to rape a girl is freedom of speech,...?y'll say no..
freedom of speech means to say the right thing..or to xpress ur opinion in a right manner..if u hate muslims that's another topic..
u ahve the right to hate me..but u don't ahev the right to insult me..
in the sma eway if u dislike MOHAMAMD(pbuh) or disagree with him on anything..then u have the right to do so..but u don't have the right to insult them..
u talk abt freedom of speech...lolz..then y it is not permissble to amke fun of holocast..u dont give permission to talk abt a lie(holocast)..but u give the rightto make cartoons of prohets..
be bold n mature man...
IF THEY CAN WALK THE STREETS OF NEW YORK AND ENJOY THE FREEDOMS OF SPEECH....SO WHATS TEH PROBLEM WITH SOUTH PARK?
I'm Going to Cry I Love Matt Stone and Try Parker got me in to cartoons. What they create is Awesome. This is very stupid ISSUE.
\
Save Matt Stone and Tray Parker Best Animaters CARTOONESTS EVER
Torrist Thret On South Park For Real. Matt tone and Try Parker the Creators of South Park where Warn to be threaten to be killed on the spot.
Why are these radicals even living in this country. If they don't want to respect our ways then go back to where they came from.
Just to make it clear for Big fan of AC 360, South Park makes fun of every religion. In that same episode with Mohammed in a simple bear costume, they showed Buddha snorting cocaine. In an episode a few years ago they showed Jesus pooping on then President George Bush. So for Muslims to be outraged by Mohammed in a bear costume is laughable. There is absolutely no "double standard" going on here...
I am a huge South Park fan. I love freedom of speech and feel that something should be done about this. This is a cartoon. a friggin cart-toon! They have made fun of everyone from JFK to the Pope. Hell Jesus is on every other episode. This is not the 1500s and you can not threaten to kill anyone who does not agree with your religon or even make fun of it. Who cares.....think about it....if their god was so mad wouldnt he handle it himself? These islamic hot heads need to just pack it up and find another planet to blow up.
I am a Muslim, living in the U.S. I don't know about the South Park group and I haven't seen the cartoon they created about the Prophet, peace be upon him. I also believe in the freedom of speech, not only because I live in the U.S. but as a Muslim, Islam entitles me to express my views on any matters. In fact, having an opinion is a unique distinction that makes humans different from the rest of the species. So, offending people's values is not a cool thing. There is no place in the American Constitution that encourages people to offend each other's values and justify their views on freedom of speech. In a pluralistic society such as America, people should know that they have a responsibility for respecting the value of their fellow Americans. I also oppose the idea of responding to the South Park group with violence. But if South Park wants to exercise freedom of speech beyong its limits, why can't they offend the Jews, the Blacks and the Christians and every denomination in this country? I am sure millions will be offended and as a result South Park will be out of business in just one day, if not taking to court for offending and inciting the peace. So, of course I am offended if South Park did such stupid things, because its my value and sense of belief.
I think the south park team owes an appology to the people who don't want a certain character in their humor show. If they want to make fun of their Jusus, Moses, Solomon or David go head they are welcome by those nations but as far as muslims are concerned the actual religion ia all about respect for God and his people.
I've been Muslim for over 13 years, I have yet to interpret from the Quran the commandment to terrorize non-muslims. As I read the Quranic Verse wrongfully represented by the Muslim interviewed, it says that Allah instructed the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his followers to make ready for any impending attack against the community, by those who wanted to kill the believers and stop the propagation in the belief of ONE GOD. It does not say attack or terrorize but to make ready your arms. Read it, Quran Chapter 8, verse 60. The Arabic word "turhibuna" means to strike fear. Turhibuna comes from the root word Rahiba, which means to fear, dread or awe. As a former US Soldier, corrections employee, and wife of former a police officer, I have equated "make ready your strength" as a show of force, so that your enemy will RESPECT you enough not to attack you.
I am a supporter of free speech, however, I think we all should be responsible with the words we speak. I am not happy with anyone defaming the Prophet (peace be upon him), Jesus or Abraham (upon them be peace), yet killing anyone over the words they choose to speak does not resolve or solve anything. It only provokes the irresponsibility displayed in that skit. On the Day of Judgement, Allah will punish those who deserve it.
"Woe to those who invent a lie and attribute it to Allah."
May Allah forgive me for any mistakes I have made in my comments, Ameen.
South Park is my guilty pleasure, love it. a few years ago they showed the prophet and did not get threatened with death. Now they chose not to, and they are. This shows how crazy radical Muslims are. They are the ones that have no place in our world. Arrest these jokers. We know what group they are in NY so the FBI most likely has an eye on them. Do it now before something happens.
I believe with all my heart that if radicals had their way, they would burn every art gallery, art museum and artist they could lay their hands on.
These radicals are doing more to damage what the rest of the world knows of Islam than a billion Trey Parkers, Matt Stones, Theo van Goghs and Ayaan Hirsi Alis could do in a hundred life times. Cartoons, films and books don't kill people. Radicals do.
It is vitally important for all to remember that we are living in the United States and our guarantee to freedom of speech is a constitutionally protected right that we must safeguard. We can never sit idly by and allow our Constitution to be trampled upon. I am a natural born citizen of the United States and one of the most important freedoms I enjoy is freedom of speech. Both the writers of the comedy show and the Muslim Revolution enjoy this same Constitutionally protected right to freedom of speech. Having said that, our criminal justice system needs to go closely over anything said or written that can be interpreted as a threat to the safety and well-being of any individual. If it is determined that a threat has either been made or is perceived by the intended victim, criminal prosecution should be commenced. We are a country that abides by the rule of law, not the rule of man.
This is a shame, perhaps not so much to Muslims as it should be to those in charge of American laws. This is a free country and allowing these Muslim radicals to live here in this free country is outrageous. This country country is our home. If they want to live and thrive here in our land they have to abide to our laws and respect our culture, otherwise they go back to where they believe they belong, even if they were born here. Those people should not enjoy our way of life if they are not willing to assimilate and respect others opinions. I have read parts of they're holly book and they are willing to embrace such things as the pedophile behavior of they're prophet Mohammad. Due to political correctness and the fear to be labeled racist people usually don't say what they really think. Why don't we call this abuses and their teachings for what they really are, . Islam religion has good things only to Muslims and does not respect others. I have seen the way they discriminate against Christians, Jews, Ba hi in the middle East but that is their land and we have to abide and respect their culture when we visit their land whether we like it or not. We should treat them the same way. By the way I cannot stand South Park and I am an atheist but I also believe that anyone who wants to practice their religion peacefully should do so. This is America, a civilized country not a land ruled by a bunch of salvages...
complete nonsense 'big fan of AC 360'. free speech is free speech. hate speech should be reacted to with speech, not violence.
comparing a bear uniform with nazi symbols is complete nonsense.
it's time muslims started responding in the strongest terms to the violent talk out there by fellow, albeit, crazy muslims. these radicals muslims have replaced the KKK and Black Panther as america's new violent racists.
if you threaten an American citizen you're breaking the law. people are prosecuted for threatening all the time.
@big fan of AC 360
While most people (including myself) are offended by South Park episodes, we are not puting out death threats, and if we did we would be held accountable, i.e.- investigated, jail time.
WHAT A SHAME!!!!!! THERE IS NO FREEDOM OF SPEECH THAT TELLS YOU, YOU SHOULD OFFEND PEOPLE AND CALL THEM NAMES, ESPECIALLY NOT RELIGIUS FIGURES.. THIS COUNTRY STANDS FOR RESPECT AND UNDERSTANDING, NOT DEAMANIZING ONE'S RELIGION OR MAKING FUN OUT OF THEM
Muslims take Islam very seriously. It's very sacred, near n dear. Simply a way of life. I feel that other cultures fail to realize that a joke regarding the Prophet is a slap in the face. It's offensive in any situation. Though its intentions were to provide amusement, those with no regards or ties to Islam simply cannot and will not understand the anger and emotions that such images may arise. Its personal, that's all!
Well lets see here its ok for them to crash airplanes into our world trade center in our own country and take thousands of innocent lives just to prove a stupid point, but not ok to air a cartoon about some prophet? They make fun of every religion, sure many may not think this is ok but so what its freedom of speech and they are not threatening anyone. And yes I am a fan of the show and I'm catholic but i still find it funny when they poke fun at jesus. I also really hate how when the guy from revolutionmuslim.com says that he hates America, isnt that freedom of speech? That is exactly what the creators of south park are doing speaking their thoughts and exercising their right. I just think these people need to be whipped out of this world like if a huge monster just came out of they ground and ate them all that'd be awesome.
The problem is that radical groups like this are protected under the 1st amendment. While the 1st amendment is very important, and I support it, there has to be a limit – yet it shows the decisions our supreme court makes and allows.
If the supreme court can allow "crush videos" where animals are crushed under a woman's high heels for some sick sexual fetish as freedom of speech and not animal cruelty (yes I know the wide ranging reasons it was shot down today), then of course they will protect radical groups and allow them to threaten people under that protection.
All extremists should be made to answer for what they do, be they abortion clinic bombers, the KKK, white supremacists, those who commit crimes against homosexuals, or Muslims. No group that promotes or encourages violence should be exempt or be able to hide behind the 1st amendment otherwise it just makes a mockery of it.
Terroristic threatening isterroristic threatening no matter how you slice it.
there is nothing wrong with south park making comedic fun of anyone. If you were a muslim then there would be a problem. South park the show is an equal opportunity comedy. I really dont like it when I see the Prophet
Muhammad (peace be upon him) in a comedy but hey as a Muslim I certainly can handle it. I really dont like extremists getting there 2 minutes of fame muslim or not. As a citizen an American I know our freedoms are not available in many countries so lets remember that. Criticism is necessary within freedom. If I ever hear that guy shouting in the street I would tell him to go back to where ever he came from. If he is an American and does not support this country I would remind him of how ignorant he is. God bless America and our Melting Pot.
The worst part is that the American Muslim groups will be completely silent about this, as they almost always are. This is what I don't get. If it's only "radical" Islam that gets irked about this stuff, then why doesn't non-radical Islam speak up against them?
When a radical muslim makes a threat to an American, they need to be sent back to their country, or a country where they "yearn" to be. Can you imagine what would happen to an American who walked their streets and threatened their people? They wouldn't even have a chance to come back to America.
South Park is the epitome of the first amendment...they use their free speech to pick on everyone!
The radical Muslims need to relaize, THIS IS AMERICA, not the middle east. Allah, Mohammad and the Koran are all fair game. I say make more cartoons, make fun of it more, and let everyone make fun of it. More shows, magazines, movies, etc. need to be so brave. I applaud South Park for taking this stance.
The message sent by the radical Muslims is terrorism. South park hits on all religions and races and it's a cartoon. These radical Muslims have nothing better to do? It's time to ship them to their homeland! It's a cartoon!
As a guy named Kenny, I feel especially vulnerable...
If Muslim Revolution can talk about about how 9/11 was justified and how they must terrorize non-believers to Islam, Trey and Matt can talk about whatever they want. It's called Free Speech. Its a 2 way street! If you don't like it, leave America.
I'm surprised that people can make such trecherous comments (comments made by that man; Mohammed concerning 911 attacks) and they still live on the US soil. What prevents the US government from sending these guys back to their countries even if they have obtained their citizenship. The big question that i want to ask is, can an American or any body make these comments on any islamic soil?
At least the South Park cartoon didn't have a pig in it. It seems to me that some of these radical Muslim clerics are making it easy for me to still think that Islam is a religion of violence, when I had heard in the past that it isn't.
These people who sanction violence do not represent Islam. It sickens me to see the morons of my faith receive so much attention.
SHUT THE SITE DWN PUT THE PATRIOT ACT TO GOOD USE
I'm guessing the only reason the contributors/leaders of revolutionmuslim haven't been arrested, is that our enforcement entities are building cases against them. Any citizen of the United States that believe they are instructed and therefore have the duty to terrorize any non-believer of their particular religion, should be deported to a country that welcomes such violent views. There are a few out there.
Free speech is one thing.Yelling fire in a crowded theater, or preaching hate and terror against non-muslims cannot be tolerated in our society. Like it or not, innocents have been brainwashed by such teachings, and they're killing people everyday.
First I want to say I’m a huge fan of the show, and this is actually my first comment ever submitted for the show.
Just a comment that Anderson makes about free speech in America. I completely disagree. If one was to make a cartoon of Moses in a Nazi uniform you would outrage a lot of Jews. You wouldn’t even be allowed to do anything with Jesus, putting him in a bear costume??? What about any other animal costumes?? A monkey?? You realize how outraged some people would be. And to put it on air!! How about South Park talking about needing to legalize child porn. How about people using the N word even the F word in a variety of environments. How about the huge amount of restrictions people have just even on TV talk shows. I’m sorry but freedom of speech does not apply to anything even in America.
Point of the matter is, I don’t agree with what these radical guys have to say at all, but I also don’t believe there should be a double standard. If you’re going to get offended if Jesus/Moses was depicted in a Nazi uniform or someone said child porn should be legalized on TV and therefore not have any of these allowed in public or let alone on air, then you shouldn’t expect others to just sit back having some of their values which could be extremely deep values poked fun of, and do nothing about it. So indeed there are restrictions to “free speech” even in America and if there are restrictions on some things, there should not be a double standard saying that there should be no restrictions on other things. One might find Moses being portrayed differently as offensive others might find Jesus or Muhammad’s portrayal as offensive. There shouldn’t be a double standard. I hope someone would ask the South Park creators if they would promote child porn on TV and if not why? Do they think it’s wrong? Is it against their values? What would they think if someone else wanted to do a show on it? Got to be careful with the double standard here.