In our last issue, The Strand published a student-drawn cartoon that appears to show Mohammed (the prophet) and Jesus Christ kissing on a carnival ride called the "Tunnel of Tolerance" (you can still see it on our website, alongside an editorial called "To print or not to print?" that explains our decision to publish the cartoon).Two days later, in response to complaints from the Muslim Students' Association and other individuals and groups, the UofT Students' Administrative Council issued a national press release denouncing The Strand. SAC also called on us to issue an apology and to withdraw the issue from distribution on campus and on the internet.
As a result of that press release, The Strand's cartoon featured in national and international media and the editorial and cartoon were viewed almost 12,000 times on our website. We also received almost 200 letters and a dozen phone calls.
In this issue, we're reprinting all of that correspondence, as well as a number of articles about the cartoon debate, including Jyllands-Posten editor Flemming Rose's explanation of his decision.
We declined to withdraw the issue, and in a special statement expressed our regret over any sadness or hurt caused by the cartoon. Our full response to SAC, the MSA, and the letters is under Editorials.
The following letters represent all of the correspondence that we have received about the cartoon, in order of date received. None of the letters have been edited for content or presentation. Some of them are clearly offensive, and for that we apologize. We hope that readers will find them informative and enlightening.
I just wanted to let you know that your cartoon comes a little late in trying to prove the point about freedom of speech. Alright! We get it! Everyone seems (everyone except your team!) to understand that it isn't about freedom of speech anymore, it's about how much respect we give to each cultural and religious group. I think your cartoon might just come across as being racist or downright stupid. On campus the problem is about how much Muslims are respected, how much Jews are respected, how much they respect each other etc. Again, WE UNDERSTAND THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH LAWS! That, my friends, is no longer the issue.
Well done!
K.J.W.
I was deeply saddened to see The Strand publish the Mohammed cartoons which are deeply offensive to all Muslims in Canada and around the world. The cartoons have been called xenophobic and have not been published by almost all journalistic institutions in Canada and more recently, Stephen Harper, the Prime Minister of Canada even referred to them as unfortunate. It is upsetting to see that weeks after the controversy, there are people still out there who want to continue to add fuel the fire and keep the flames of anger, mistrust and misunderstanding between the Muslim community and the West burning.
The paper may have gotten away with ignorance if they published the cartoons a few weeks ago, when the controversy had just started, citing that they did not know that Muslims would be so offended. But weeks, deaths, protests later, it is almost silly and inflammatory that the editor decided to go ahead and do so. This decision so late in the game just proves that the decision to print the cartoon was not educational, but rather - confrontational.
I think most Canadians would be hard pressed to find any journalistic integrity in printing the cartoons, and would find it even harder to see how publishing inflammatory cartoons really proves the virtue of freedom of speech. Freedom of speech is not an absolute right - it is something that should be considered based on the value of what is offensive, derogatory and hateful. What does publishing such cartoons really say anyway - that it is okay to defame Islam, that the West should be able to publicly disrespect the Islamic faith or anyone they want? Journalists have a responsibility to practice responsible journalism. Even a student newspaper should live up to some standard of responsibility - and I believe in that sense you have failed miserably. What your paper has shown however, is that you are completely unaware of and have no comprehension of the Islamic faith. You have no idea of the respect Muslims have for the prophet, and you have little understanding of why such cartoons were so offensive. If you were aware at all, I am sure you would have never printed or contemplated printing a single cartoon.
The editors of the Strand should know that by publishing these cartoons, you have done nothing to be proud of. Instead, you have deeply offended every single Muslim in this country, in this city and on this campus. You should be ashamed of your actions.
Noor Javed
I am deeply offended at the recent publications of certain cartoon images in "The Strand". As a student and an active member of the UofT community, I recognize the importance of freedom of speech BUT ALSO the responsibility which comes with it. Freedom of speech is in no way justification to promote racism, hatred or the demonization of others. Racism has many forms, whether it is in an outright eugenics movement or the usage of religiously inappropriate and culturally offensive printed images, all are equally horrific.
Kindly see to it that immediate action is taken regarding this matter.
A. Arain
Hon.B.Sc Student
President, Kids In Developing Societies
I have, for the most part, tried to stay out of discussions circling around the infamous Jyllands-Posten cartoons for the simple reason that I don't really know what to think of them. I cannot help but question the "sincere" intentions of newspapers republishing these images: is it really a crusade for freedom of speech or just another gimmick to get noticed? Whatever the answer you provide, viewing one of the images in your paper has indeed invoked me to voice an opinion...not so much about what the image implies, but rather the reactions of people to the image itself. It is sad that in a world already sinking in death and destruction, these images are stirring up even more violence. What I would like to ask any Muslim protesting these images is that if a caricatured image can spark such a reaction, why cannot the actual images of the injustice being carried out by certain people in the name of Islam in areas like Darfur, Sudan be denounced with the same enthusiasm? The message that seems to be going out is this: "Do not attack our religion with words, but its okay to use our religion's name to kill and violate basic human rights". I do not understand how people can sit back, relax with a cup of tea and browse through images of dead bodies and news of human beings being slaughtered in parts of the world in the name of religion, but as soon as there is an image that implies a message rather than blatantly shows the reality, the same people get out and involve themselves in riots. Are we so desensitized to the injustices being carried out around the world in the name of religion that we involve ourselves in petty matters such as mulling over a cartoon rather than taking positive action to stop the hatred? Basic human dignity and rights have become issues of the past and many have forgotten that the true essence of a human is in its "being". I find it extremely shameful that the entire world's attention has shifted to the cartoons and away from what is more important...human life. Being a Muslim myself, I am familiar with the Islamic preaching of peace and tolerance and protection of the sanctity of life. It's about time Muslims start practicing that or prepare themselves for a further onslaught of these "attacks".
is a member of the 
