By Pamela J. Podger
Islamic leaders in the Roanoke and New River valleys are upset by the European caricatures that depict the Islamic Prophet Muhammad as a terrorist, but they also denounced the violence unleashed in reaction to the drawings.
A Danish newspaper started the controversy by printing an editorial with 12 cartoons Sept. 30 that portrayed the prophet as a terrorist. Those images were reprinted recently in Germany, France, Belgium and elsewhere.
The most controversial cartoon was one of Muhammad with a bomb in his turban. The drawings have provoked a clash between the freedom of expression and religious sensitivities that are heightened for Muslims struggling to assimilate in Europe.
Any depiction of Muhammad — drawings, figures or even as an actor in movies — is forbidden, Islamic leaders said. Any representation, either positive or negative, is banned and is a sensitive issue. Many Muslims responded instantly, viscerally and emotionally, especially in the post-9/11 context where many see Islam under siege. Violence and frustration has erupted, resulting in the deaths of 11 people thus far in protests held in Islamic countries.
“Clearly, the naked fact of cartoons of the prophets taken in isolation would hardly provoke this reaction. But it is seen as one more in a series of insults and injuries,” said Caner Dagli , assistant professor of religion at Roanoke College. “The publisher invited cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad to make a point about free speech and censorship.”
But he and Islamic leaders in the region do not condone the violence erupting in Afghanistan and the Mideast. This includes riots, diplomatic skirmishes and calls for boycotts of Danish goods by some Muslim leaders.
While most Muslims are familiar with Muhammad’s life and teachings, he remains a mystery to many Westerners who misidentify him as the founder of Islam.
To Muslims — including an estimated 500 to 1,000 living in Southwest Virginia — Muhammad is the greatest and final prophet in a revered line that includes Abraham, Moses and Jesus. Muhammad, a merchant whose life straddled the sixth and seventh centuries, was chosen by Allah to hear and spread the words of the Quran.
“We don’t accept any pictures or representation of the prophet,’’ said Sedki Riad , director of the Islamic Center at Virginia Tech and an electrical engineering professor. “This is offensive because we look at the prophet in a different light.”
He said peaceful approaches, such as education and dialogue, are required to handle these issues more delicately.
“You don’t react to these things with violence and anger. It is not sending the right message and not shedding the right light on Islam,” he said. “Most of these issues start with ignorance on both sides to issues of sensitivity, background and cultures.’’
Imam Ibrahim Hamidullah , leader of the Clarence Sabree Islamic Center in Roanoke, said the violence places Islam in an unflattering light.
“What you have going on right now is due to the culture, not the religion of Islam. All actions should be good and righteous,” he said. “The main problem with many Muslims is we have gotten away from studying and reading our holy books.’’
Imam Shaheed Coovadia , of the Islamic Center of Virginia in Richmond, said his sermon last week focused on the topic, as will his sermon Friday. He said about 6,000 Muslims live in the Richmond area.
“When Muslims commit to the faith, part of the credo is Muhammad is a messenger of God,” he said. “He has been depicted in cartoons in Europe in a very negative way — associating him with terrorism. That is a misrepresentation of who he really was. We believe he was a man of peace.’’