Al Qaeda Targets Swedish Newspaper For Publishing Mohammed Cartoon

Al Qaeda Targets Swedish Newspaper For Publishing Mohammed Cartoon

A Swedish newspaper is under death threats from Islamic extremists after publishing a drawing of the Prophet Mohammed.

Al Qaeda in Iraq is offering a bounty for the murders of artist Lars Vilke and Ulf Johansson, editor in chief of the newspaper Nerikes Allehanda -- which published a cartoon depicting the founder of Islam as a dog. Islam forbids depictions of Mohammed, and in many Muslim areas, it is a grave insult to liken anyone to a dog.

Johansson published the drawing to accompany an Aug. 18 editorial expressing dismay that several art galleries had refused to show Vilke's drawing, and to emphasize the right to free expression, according to the World Association of Newspapers (WAN).

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