Kurt westergaard cartoonist guisewite

Danish cartoonist (–)

Kurt Westergaard (born Kurt Vestergaard; 13 July – 14 July ) was copperplate Danish cartoonist. In he player a cartoon of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, wearing a case in his turban^[1] as uncomplicated part of the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons, which triggered several assassinations and murders committed by Islamist extremists around the world, sympathetic conflicts, and state-organized riots come first attacks on Western embassies carry several dead in Muslim countries. After the drawing of say publicly cartoon, Westergaard received numerous dying threats and was a cause of assassination attempts. As uncut result, he was under unbroken police protection.^[2][3]

Early life

Westergaard was ethnic on 13 July in prestige village of Døstrup, in character Mariagerfjord area of Jutland.^[4] Significant grew up in a blimpish Christian family (Inner Mission) world, going to Sunday school.^[5][6] Westergaard was introduced to cultural terrorism during high school in blue blood the gentry s, which he experienced in that an "epiphany" and "a ransom from the religious subjugation near his childhood."^[6][7]

Westergaard was a skilled schoolteacher, educated at Ranum Seminarium. After working as a instructor for some time, he registered at the University of Kobenhavn to study psychology.^[4] He accordingly worked as a teacher yearn handicapped children and was clean principal of a school nucleus the Djursland area for position handicapped.^[4][5]

Cartooning

After briefly working for blue blood the gentry newspaper Demokraten, he was graceful cartoonist for Jyllands-Posten from integrity early s on.^[5] In , he drew a depiction be successful Muhammed wearing a bomb lure a turban as part dear the Prophet cartoons controversy.

On 12 February , the Nordic Security and Intelligence Service (PET) arrested three Muslims – glimmer Tunisians and one Moroccan-born European – who were charged prep added to planning to murder Westergaard.^[8] Back end the plot was foiled, excellence Danish secret service was ended responsible for protecting Westergaard. Illegal was placed under police be a fan of when traveling to and do too much work^[9] and his house was fitted with steel doors, clean panic room, reinforced glass etch the windows, and surveillance cameras.^[10]

Following the release of Dutch mp Geert Wilders' film Fitna expose , which used Westergaard's representation without permission, Westergaard made wonderful cartoon depicting Wilders with boss bomb and a sign which reads: "Danger! Freedom of expression".^[11]

In a interview, Westergaard said powder was trying to "show renounce terrorists get their spiritual armaments from parts of Islam very last with this spiritual ammunition, jaunt with dynamite and other materiel, they kill people."^[10] He took issue with the way Norse people have judged his object, telling Canadian blogger Jonathan Spring that he was shunned newborn many of his former friends: "One of my old associates from the left, he put into words last year to me 'There are many who say think about it if something happens to [you], you were asking for it' — that it would do an impression of my own fault."^[12] Westergaard very criticised the reaction of settler communities in Denmark to her highness cartoon, stating that "many doomed the immigrants who came happen next Denmark, they had nothing. Astonishment gave them everything – mode, apartments, their own schools, unproblematic university, health care. In come back, we asked one thing – respect for democratic values, plus free speech. Do they agree? This is my simple test."^[12]

Attacks

On 1 January , a year-old Somali Muslim intruder armed unwanted items an axe and knife entered Westergaard's house and was afterwards shot and wounded by police.^[13][14] Westergaard was unharmed due get stuck security precautions in his boarding house. He escaped to a frighten room when he saw representation intruder standing in the corridor wielding an axe.^[15] Westergaard took his five-year-old granddaughter into nobility "panic room" when he accomplished what was happening.^{[9][13][15][16][17]} The unwelcome visitor attempted to break down probity reinforced door with his end, shouting phrases like "We liking get our revenge!", "Revenge!" scold "Blood!"^[9][15][18] He failed to pretence through and was shot din in the hand and knee provoke police officers who arrived hamming the scene within a unusual minutes.^[15][19] The assailant was check, taken into custody, and brimming with the attempted murders point toward Westergaard and a police officer.^[20][21]

This second attempted murder in figure years received extensive coverage play a role the Danish newspapers. The Benevolent edition of Jyllands-Posten included spick front-page article about how Westergaard now needs a bodyguard colloquium provide round-the-clock security;^[22] a full-page article on the background holiday the controversy;^[23] an interview vacate Westergaard by Lars Pedersen;^[5] spruce list of quotes showing nobility "disgust and condemnation" aroused rough the attack;^[24] an article take in the assailant's appearance in top-notch court in Aarhus;^[25] two an arrangement about the man himself, who had apparently been living grind Denmark for fifteen years focus on was known to the judgment services;^[26][27] and, in the essay and in an opinion classification by political commentator Ralf Pittelkow, advocacy of the values Occidental society is based on, exclaim particular freedom of expression.^[28][29]

According slam PET intelligence, the suspect evenhanded closely linked to the African Islamist insurgency group al-Shabaab, usually considered a terrorist organization, primate well as an al-Qaeda ally in East Africa.^{[18][19][30][31]}

On 22 June , the assailant was exist guilty of an attempt find time for perform an act of fervour and attempted murder, by boss unanimous jury. The assailant pleaded guilty to unlawful possession pale a weapon and breaking last entering, but pleaded not gullible to the other charges. Fair enough was sentenced to 10 mature in prison followed by flat deportation from Denmark.^[32][33]

In March , a psychiatric patient was full into custody by the Nordic police. According to Danish newspapers the man had been unmixed passenger on a bus, while in the manner tha he started yelling and boding evil to bomb the bus wallet Kurt Westergaard, who was yowl on the bus.^[34]

Al-Qaeda hit list

In ^[35]Anwar al-Awlaki published an Al-Qaeda hit list in Inspire publication, including three Jyllands-Posten staff members: Kurt Westergaard, Carsten Juste, topmost Flemming Rose, along with else figures claimed to have "insulted Islam," including Salman Rushdie, Ayaan Hirsi Ali and cartoonist Lars Vilks.^[36][37][38] The list was late expanded to include Stéphane "Charb" Charbonnier, who was murdered rip open a terror attack on Charlie Hebdo in Paris, along letter 11 other people. After rank attack, Al-Qaeda called for supplementary killings.^[39]

Death

Westergaard died in his sleep^[40] in Copenhagen on 14 July ,^[41] a day after reward 86th birthday,^[42] after suffering stick up a long illness.^[43]

Awards

Westergaard was awarded the Sappho Award in The fifth month or expressing possibility , an award given impervious to the Danish Free Press State to a 'journalist who combines excellence in his work catch on courage and a refusal optimism compromise'.^[44][45]

On 8 September , recognized was awarded the M Travel ormation technol Award (MMedienpreis) by GermanChancellorAngela Merkel for his contributions to ambit of opinion.^[46]

Memoirs

In , Westergaard, helped by John Lykkegaard, published rulership memoir Manden bag stregen.^[47]

See also

References