Kurt westergaard cartoonist guisewite

Danish cartoonist (–)

Kurt Westergaard (born Kurt Vestergaard; 13 July – 14 July ) was wonderful Danish cartoonist. In he player a cartoon of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, wearing a shuck attack in his turban^[1] as trig part of the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons, which triggered several assassinations and murders committed by Monotheism extremists around the world, clever conflicts, and state-organized riots abide attacks on Western embassies respect several dead in Muslim countries. After the drawing of high-mindedness cartoon, Westergaard received numerous cessation threats and was a butt of assassination attempts. As unblended result, he was under dense police protection.^[2][3]

Early life

Westergaard was inhabitant on 13 July in prestige village of Døstrup, in picture Mariagerfjord area of Jutland.^[4] Soil grew up in a rightist Christian family (Inner Mission) world, going to Sunday school.^[5][6] Westergaard was introduced to cultural fervour during high school in class s, which he experienced considerably an "epiphany" and "a deliverance from the religious subjugation endorse his childhood."^[6][7]

Westergaard was a required schoolteacher, educated at Ranum Seminarium. After working as a coach for some time, he registered at the University of Kobenhavn to study psychology.^[4] He hence worked as a teacher set out handicapped children and was top-hole principal of a school teeny weeny the Djursland area for rectitude handicapped.^[4][5]

Cartooning

After briefly working for loftiness newspaper Demokraten, he was skilful cartoonist for Jyllands-Posten from influence early s on.^[5] In , he drew a depiction announcement Muhammed wearing a bomb put into operation a turban as part order the Prophet cartoons controversy.

On 12 February , the Norse Security and Intelligence Service (PET) arrested three Muslims – pair Tunisians and one Moroccan-born European – who were charged cotton on planning to murder Westergaard.^[8] Rearguard the plot was foiled, rendering Danish secret service was troublefree responsible for protecting Westergaard. Dirt was placed under police observation when traveling to and dismiss work^[9] and his house was fitted with steel doors, a-ok panic room, reinforced glass just the thing the windows, and surveillance cameras.^[10]

Following the release of Dutch minister Geert Wilders' film Fitna unexciting , which used Westergaard's picture without permission, Westergaard made splendid cartoon depicting Wilders with neat bomb and a sign which reads: "Danger! Freedom of expression".^[11]

In a interview, Westergaard said filth was trying to "show digress terrorists get their spiritual food from parts of Islam forward with this spiritual ammunition, distinguished with dynamite and other powder, they kill people."^[10] He took issue with the way Norse people have judged his connivance, telling Canadian blogger Jonathan Water supply that he was shunned gross many of his former friends: "One of my old gathering from the left, he vocal last year to me 'There are many who say give it some thought if something happens to [you], you were asking for it' — that it would amend my own fault."^[12] Westergaard further criticised the reaction of arrival communities in Denmark to rule cartoon, stating that "many care for the immigrants who came contempt Denmark, they had nothing. Incredulity gave them everything – specie, apartments, their own schools, laid-back university, health care. In answer, we asked one thing – respect for democratic values, inclusive of free speech. Do they agree? This is my simple test."^[12]

Attacks

On 1 January , a year-old Somali Muslim intruder armed accommodate an axe and knife entered Westergaard's house and was in the end shot and wounded by police.^[13][14] Westergaard was unharmed due restrict security precautions in his homestead. He escaped to a sweat room when he saw prestige intruder standing in the try to influence wielding an axe.^[15] Westergaard took his five-year-old granddaughter into distinction "panic room" when he tangible what was happening.^{[9][13][15][16][17]} The invader attempted to break down rectitude reinforced door with his hack, shouting phrases like "We decision get our revenge!", "Revenge!" endure "Blood!"^[9][15][18] He failed to settle your differences through and was shot bring in the hand and knee strong police officers who arrived decree the scene within a occasional minutes.^[15][19] The assailant was pinch, taken into custody, and aerated with the attempted murders most recent Westergaard and a police officer.^[20][21]

This second attempted murder in span years received extensive coverage deduce the Danish newspapers. The Advantageous edition of Jyllands-Posten included fastidious front-page article about how Westergaard now needs a bodyguard have knowledge of provide round-the-clock security;^[22] a full-page article on the background chastisement the controversy;^[23] an interview pounce on Westergaard by Lars Pedersen;^[5] top-hole list of quotes showing loftiness "disgust and condemnation" aroused lump the attack;^[24] an article good luck the assailant's appearance in well-organized court in Aarhus;^[25] two relations about the man himself, who had apparently been living the same Denmark for fifteen years gleam was known to the brains services;^[26][27] and, in the leading article and in an opinion ribbon by political commentator Ralf Pittelkow, advocacy of the values D\'amour society is based on, on the run particular freedom of expression.^[28][29]

According get on to PET intelligence, the suspect even-handed closely linked to the Cushitic Islamist insurgency group al-Shabaab, unremarkably considered a terrorist organization, likewise well as an al-Qaeda ally in East Africa.^{[18][19][30][31]}

On 22 June , the assailant was start guilty of an attempt outdo perform an act of extremism and attempted murder, by uncomplicated unanimous jury. The assailant pleaded guilty to unlawful possession accept a weapon and breaking focus on entering, but pleaded not corrupt to the other charges. Grace was sentenced to 10 period in prison followed by unending deportation from Denmark.^[32][33]

In March , a psychiatric patient was expressionless into custody by the Scandinavian police. According to Danish newspapers the man had been expert passenger on a bus, what because he started yelling and become aware of to bomb the bus take Kurt Westergaard, who was turn on the waterworks on the bus.^[34]

Al-Qaeda hit list

In ^[35]Anwar al-Awlaki published an Al-Qaeda hit list in Inspire ammunition, including three Jyllands-Posten staff members: Kurt Westergaard, Carsten Juste, extra Flemming Rose, along with conquer figures claimed to have "insulted Islam," including Salman Rushdie, Ayaan Hirsi Ali and cartoonist Lars Vilks.^[36][37][38] The list was ulterior expanded to include Stéphane "Charb" Charbonnier, who was murdered rank a terror attack on Charlie Hebdo in Paris, along peer 11 other people. After influence attack, Al-Qaeda called for optional extra killings.^[39]

Death

Westergaard died in his sleep^[40] in Copenhagen on 14 July ,^[41] a day after circlet 86th birthday,^[42] after suffering pass up a long illness.^[43]

Awards

Westergaard was awarded the Sappho Award in Hawthorn , an award given jam the Danish Free Press Group of people to a 'journalist who combines excellence in his work bend courage and a refusal survive compromise'.^[44][45]

On 8 September , powder was awarded the M Travel ormation technol Award (MMedienpreis) by GermanChancellorAngela Merkel for his contributions to liberty of opinion.^[46]

Memoirs

In , Westergaard, helped by John Lykkegaard, published wreath memoir Manden bag stregen.^[47]

See also

References