Wikipedia Fights for Prophet Muhammad Cartoons

The controversy over the publication of editorial cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad is playing out on Wikipedia, where an image of a newspaper page containing the cartoons has been removed eight times within the past week alone.

An internal poll of Wikipedia editors strongly favored the publication of the image, which puts the online encyclopedia in the same position as media organizations that have taken criticism for reprinting them.

"Making and also looking the figures of Mohammed is forbidden," wrote one editor who called the decision to include them an insult to Islam. "Every time I enter the page I click as fastly as I can to the 'discussion' to don't see the cartoon."

Contributors to Wikipedia are 4-to-1 in favor of their inclusion. "Most of the arguments to censor this image are despicable," one stated. "It is the honour and duty of any free man to stand against such things."

Wikipedia's discussion page for the article includes a Cascading Style Sheets tip that enables users to turn off display of the image:

You will need to be logged in as a user in order to do this.

Open your monobook.css page, this will be User:yourUserName/monobook.css

Add the following line: #mi{display: none;}

Reading the arguments taking place within the internal talk pages of Wikipedia gives an appreciation for the immensity of the encyclopedia's mission, which seems guaranteed to land cofounder Jimbo Wales and other participants squarely in the center of every heated political and speech controversy from now until the end of time.

Wales personally deleted the main talk page about the cartoons Feb. 1, pleading for more civility:

This is not the appropriate place for a general philosophical discussion about Islam, freedom of speech, terrorism, religious tolerance, etc. Not only is this talk page not the right place for it, Wikipedia is not the right place for it. Here, we are polite, thoughtful, smart, geeky people, trying only to do something which is undoubtably good in the world: write and give away a free encyclopedia.

Politics · Wikipedia · 2006/02/20 · 7 COMMENTS · Link

Comments

Freedom of speech allows me to insult you.

Freedom of conscience allows you to feel insulted.

Freedom ofspeech allows you to voice your dislike at being insulted.

Freedom of conscience allows me to not give a damn.

#1 · Anony-mouse · 2006/02/20

Hmm ... "guaranteed to land cofounder Jimbo Wales and other participants squarely in the center of every heated political and speech controversy from now until the end of time."

I think you have just put your finger on one of the secrets of Wikipedia's "success". The people running it are positioned to reap free promotion every time there's a media feeding frenzy.

#2 · Seth Finkelstein · 2006/02/20

Me thinks they protest too much.

#3 · Bread · 2006/02/21

I gave up on Africa when Nigeria almost blew up over beauty queens touring the country. If they can't handle beauty queens one might suggest that it's better that they live in such harsh conditions so as to remain as small as possible. I give up on the middle east of the same reason. If they can't handle cartoons, maybe they should be led by genocidal buffoons.

#4 · Grrrr---Rant! · 2006/02/21

Please, re-edit the quote from one of Wikipedia editors who is so careful not to look at a page offensive to him/her that he/she forgets to take care of his/her English. Some editor!

I also clicked "fastly" "to don't see" or "look" the above comment.

#5 · Magdalena Rostron · 2006/03/30

Freedom of Speech..Expression..Ideas..thoughts..etc are very much appreciable. Still..if any of our freedoms is badly hurting anybody..I think its bad..
We are leaving in a world were there are voices against cutting trees..street dogs killing and so on..
So..these kinda cartoons or public demonstrations is hurting a whole society..for they love Prof. Mohammed more than anything on earth..more than their parents..their children..their siblings..even their blood.

#6 · Shamseer · 2007/04/18

Simply because Islam frightens people with their hateful and violent responses to simple cartoons does not mean we run and hide and submit to their intolerance and oppresion of freedom of speech and even thought. WE FLAUNT OUR FREEDOMS!

For those that need to see my cartoon of Mohammed (the best cartoon yet), email me at dirkadirkamohammedjihad [@] hotmail dot com

Thanks,
Rex

#7 · Rex · 2008/02/06