The Religious Policeman

The "Ugly Jew".

Where would we be without the "Ugly Jew" motif in our Saudi cartoons? Let's face it, he's an enduring figure.



Here he is in a cartoon from "Die Brennessel", the Nazi humor magazine, 2nd January 1934, doing what he is very good at, controlling the world's media.



And here he is in a cartoon from the "Saudi Gazette", the Saudi daily newspaper, 23rd March 2006, doing what he is also very good at, controlling the US politico-military machine.

Don't expect an apology from Saudi Arabia anytime soon. We're still "Quite Offended" because of the Danish cartoons, as you can see at the top right. So offended, in fact, that people even apologize to us when we haven't actually demanded an apology.

Church recalls 'Prophet' magazine

The Church in Wales has recalled 500 copies of its magazine featuring a cartoon caricaturing the Prophet Muhammad....The Archbishop of Wales Dr Barry Morgan told the BBC: "The article was perfectly OK, but for some reason, the editor decided to print one of these cartoons which was a gross error of judgement. It no way reflects the policy of the church in Wales and when I saw it I was totally horrified. We recalled all the papers, I personally picked up some from some churches and they have all been pulped. I've unreservedly apologised to my Muslim colleagues and they've been very gracious and I've said to them this in no way reflects the policy or attitude in the Church in Wales". Dr Morgan also personally contacted Saleem Kidwai, the Muslim Council of Wales' general secretary, to apologise and to assure him that no offence had been intended.

The magazine in question is written in Welsh. However, knowing the local Muslim clerics' habit of reading Welsh-language church magazines in their spare moments (they look for the knitting patterns), a personal apology from the Bishop was not only in order, but also not a moment too soon. And the British are just so good at apologizing, they have no equals.

In keeping with good British journalistic practice, I will not of course publish the Welsh cartoon, originally from the French-language "Le Soir" newspaper, in case it might cause offense to any fellow-Muslims who might wish to be offended. Apparently it depicts Mohammad and Moses and Buddha and Jesus, but it would be too offensive to reveal any more.



Whoops! Too late, "finger trouble". Terribly sorry about that; no, I really am most sorry, my fault entirely, won't happen again, please can I express my most profound apologies, especially to the Buddhists, I really am most contrite about the whole thing, I don't know how to apologize enough.....