• Sweden edition

Lars Vilks attacked during lecture

Published: 11 May 10 18:01 CET | Double click on a word to get a translation
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/26590/20100511/

Artist Lars Vilks, who caused controversy by drawing cartoons that depicted the prophet Muhammad as a dog, has been attacked while giving a lecture at Uppsala University.

Vilks, who has been the subject of numerous death threats, was attacked while speaking at the university’s philosophy faculty on Tuesday afternoon. He was not badly hurt.

“The man was sitting in the front row and suddenly came rushing towards me. He headbutted me, and I was thrown against the wall and dropped my glasses,” he said.

According to local newspaper Uppsala Nya Tidning, the atmosphere in the lecture theatre became rowdy after Vilks showed a film with sexual content.

“A crowd of people pushed forward. When a police officer tried to stop them he was hit. As things stand, two people have been arrested,” said police commander Tommy Karlsson.

Vilks was taken to a secure location following the attack.

“I have not been injured, just a bit knocked about,” he said.

Vilks became notorious in parts of the Muslim world for portraying the Islamic prophet Muhammad as a roundabout dog.

The publication of the drawings in the Nerikes Allehanda newspaper led to death threats from a number of organizations, including an al-Qaeda-affiliated organization which offered $150,000 for his murder. Vilks was consequently forced to accept police protection.

An alleged plot to kill Vilks was revealed in March: American Colleen R. LaRose was charged with trying to recruit terrorists to murder the artist. At the same time, seven people were arrested in Ireland over a plot to kill Vilks, although four of those detained were later released.

The Local (news@thelocal.se/08 656 6518)

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18:46 May 11, 2010 by Torvig
He should sketch a picture of his attackers kicking a dog.
18:48 May 11, 2010 by hardonforswedes
Did he have his axe with him?
18:58 May 11, 2010 by calebian22
There is more information here: Vilks overfallen under forelasning
19:40 May 11, 2010 by bbeynch
Why was he attacked? All he did was speak according to the story. Was he a threat to someone?
19:42 May 11, 2010 by bolababu
People, this has nothing to do with muslims or non-muslims. The article says that after he showed a film with sexual content, he got attacked. He probably offended someone and of course, that doesn't justify the attack but i think this guy is too old to go about seeking cheap popularity, enough is enough, he should let sleeping "dogs" lie.
19:45 May 11, 2010 by ringorm
Here you can see the attack on video, note the women screaming "Allahu Akbar" while he is being attacked. Also at the end they scream "stop the video" in Swedish.
19:51 May 11, 2010 by voiceofreason
Cheap popularity, that's what he wants with his crazy ideas and depictions.

I hate Mohammed and all he stands for but I have muslim friends whom I love. For that simple reason, I will respect their sensibilities and not say or do offending stuff.

There are decent ways to oppose a point of view without being so obnoxious and vulgar.
19:54 May 11, 2010 by ringorm
Here is a clip from the front stage.
20:13 May 11, 2010 by Freelife
Terrorism against freedom of expression.

Sad!
20:15 May 11, 2010 by StockholmSam
I agree that Vilks attempt to create dialogue with his cartoon was poorly considered and seemed a cheap way to garner him some attention. But his skills as a cartoonist are more worthy of criticism than his depiction of Muhammad; the cartoon that caused all this controversy was lousy.
20:39 May 11, 2010 by tillerman
With freedom comes responsibility. Vilks decided to use his art to provoke and then is upset that it provokes. He did it to himself, first with the cartoon and then with sexual video. This makes him creative and worthy of admiration?

Those who physically attacked him face also have responsibility for their assault.

Both sides are wrong.
20:57 May 11, 2010 by boby
LOL, I just watched the video. Swedish police-wimps! What a display of impotancy.

And to tillerman-

sure, you are so right. today its the video, tomorrow they will find it offensive that you sell pork in the shops and the day after it will be provocative for a women to go without a veil.
21:12 May 11, 2010 by ringorm
Regarding the second clip I posted, they have edited it since I posted it, they dont show how the second guy assults a policeofficer and is taken down, aswell they dont show the overall scene. Shame that I didnt save the clip.
22:16 May 11, 2010 by Nordic Prince
I wonder why on earth the police was protecting this freak?

This is a misusing of Sweden's energy, time and power!!!

Why he doesn't hire personal bodyguards from the profits he makes?
22:19 May 11, 2010 by fxrider
What a shameful display, if they didnt like it they should have simply walked out quietly instead.

Is there a link to Vilk's "entire" talk?
22:49 May 11, 2010 by nldani
This stupid LARS dont know what is respect for other religons. He should learn to respect rather than casing cheap fame.

His next project is to make cartoon of Jesus, King, Queen, Prime Minister of Sweden.

Someone should teach him the meaning to respect Please!!
22:57 May 11, 2010 by peropaco
@nldani . If Lars makes any cartoons depicting Jesus as a swine or any other religious figures, I am certain you will not find anyone shouting Allah Akfukingbar while trying to cut his neck off. That behaviour can only be found with radical islamist.
22:59 May 11, 2010 by wxman
He is a free man who can criticize anything he chooses. He's probably an atheist, or at least an agnostic who doesn't much care for any relidgious beliefs, but at least he's consistent across the board. Those who don't like it can just get over it and move on. Thin skinned losers.
23:00 May 11, 2010 by Bostonexpat
Vilks has the right to be heard--period. If people aren't interested in him, he'll disappear. Obviously there are enough idiotic loons here that warrant the police (though ineffective) presence.
23:03 May 11, 2010 by mjennin2
Funny; even as a christian, I couldn't give a damn if Vilks made a poor illustration of Christ. Make Christ a monkey, make him a dog, make him whatever you want! Christ didn't come to be popular, he came to save those who chose to believe. And if that is the case, I'll let Vilks discuss his cartoon with the Big Man Upstairs when his time comes. No need for me to get pissy about it, let alone try to kill him. If God is really God, he'll get his revenge, he doesn't need me to do it whilst making my religion look like a complete sham. I truly do not understand the ridiculous socio-religious fantasism I am becoming more and more aware of around the world.

Replace religion with "cliques" and replace society with a schoolyard playground, and we can reduce this all down to a bunch of kids calling each other poopy-heads and then one deciding he's going to throw a left hook instead of walk away and ignore the name callings. Whatever happened to the saying "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words (or cartoons) will never hurt me"?? Religious extremists need to grow a pair and get over themselves.
11:54 May 12, 2010 by unkle strunkle
"Uppsala University spokeswoman Pernilla Bjork said Vilks was showing an excerpt from a film by an Iranian artist about Islam and homosexuality that had been banned from YouTube when the commotion started.

"It was about when Muslims and Muhammad are represented in homosexual situations," said Anders Montelius, a 23-year-old student who attended the lecture."


Yahoo! News - Sweden prophet drawing

And we all know how tolerant the "religion of peace" is towards homosexuality both in Islamic countries and in the free Western World.
12:51 May 12, 2010 by byke
where did the comments go?
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