Iran demands apology for German soccer cartoon

[Silverhair]

http://in.today.reuters.com/News/newsArticle.aspx?type=sportsNews&storyID=2006-02-14T013649Z_01_NOOTR_RTRJONC_0_India-236502-1.xml

BERLIN (Reuters) - The Iranian embassy in Germany has demanded a written apology from a Berlin newspaper that printed a cartoon of Iranian soccer players dressed as suicide bombers and threatened legal action if none is forthcoming. The sketch, published on Friday by Der Tagesspiegel, shows four moustachioed soccer players wearing Iran shirts with explosives strapped to their chests next to four German soldiers in a soccer stadium.

A caption above read: "Why the German army should definitely be used during the soccer World Cup!", referring to a debate in Germany about whether to use troops to help with security during the month-long tournament which begins June 9.

Stephan-Andreas Casdorff, the daily's managing editor, said on Monday he regretted the reaction to the drawing but did not consider an apology necessary.

The cartoon's artist had received three death threats and had been forced to leave his apartment, he said, adding that the police was investigating the threats.

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Doesn't anybody over there understand freedom of speech?

[rockymountaindem]

1. No, apparently both here and in Europe

everybody thinks it's funny until they're the ones who get mocked.

[Balbus]

2. The other cartoons causing protests were an attack on religion...

Which I believe is fair game, no matter what religion. But this sounds like an attack on race more than anything else. It appears to me the cartoon is inferring that all Persians are suicide bombers - and that crosses the line. May be free speech but still in bad taste and I think an apology should be forthcoming.

Just my opinion.

[Kellanved]

5. The cartoon is far from racist

It mocks conservative politicians for suggesting to disqualify the Iranian soccer team and for trying to deploy the German army at the world cup.

It criticizes a politic situation, which is the fairest game of them all. Even if it were directed at Iran, which it is not, it would be ok.

[fujiyama]

6. .

.

[SPKrazy]

7. Why Is An Attack On Religion Fair Game?

Just curious

[Squatch]

3. If the foo shits...

[demosincebirth]

4. Did the Iranians ever apoligize for the

taking of U.S.hostages?