Indian minister said offering $10m for beheading cartoonist

[Behind the Aegis]

Last update - 08:38 19/02/2006

Indian minister said offering $10m for beheading cartoonist

By Haaretz Service

An Indian state minister has offered a reward of more than $10 million and a prospective killer's weight in gold to anyone who beheads one of the cartoonists who angered Muslims by depcting the Prophet Mohammed in a Danish newspaper, the London Sunday Times reported this week.

The offer follows a Pakistani cleric's reward of $1 million and a car for the killing of one of the cartoonists.

The new, larger reward was announced by Yaqoob Qureshi, minister of minority welfare in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, in a speech to constituents in Meerit, northeast of Delhi.

Protesters then burned an effigy of a cartoonist and Danish flags, the Times reported.

more...

[aquart]

1. Look, George, you taught them something.

Distract the people from their crappy government with some ridiculous, worthless, pointless boogeyman.

[saigon68]

2. Good Call--- The Chimpanzee uses STRAW MEN a lot

And these potentates imitate him for their own sheep to hate and follow

[QC]

9. Demagogues were doing that long before Bush came along.

Please, let's not make him out to be brilliant and all-powerful.

[no_hypocrisy]

3. Bidding war for vigilante justice. n/t

[CJCRANE]

4. The world is truly a global village now

and so we're getting to see who the global village idiots are.

[barb162]

19. Bravo for telling it like it is . It's amazing how many there are

:hi:

[genie_weenie]

5. Blaming * for this is a little silly.

Oh Come on. I seem to recall Salman Rushdie having a fatwa issued for his death prior to the * admin.

[LynnTheDem]

6. Jesus fucking Christ...!

This is NOT the world I wanna be living in. Holy fucking shit.

[fushuugi]

18. i agree [n/t]

[LynnTheDem]

34. I just don't know what else to say...

First time I've ever posted such a remark on DU... But then, first time I recall hearing a government official announcing a reward for the murder by beheading of an innocent human being.

And this is bush's great ALLY.

God help us all.

[babydollhead]

7. does the beheader have to deliver the head?

and what about the broom?

[ckramer]

8. Wow

looks like this guy is getting into a big trouble for his "funny" art work.

[anotherdrew]

10. and now I'm offering $10m for beheading this minister. Problem solved?

If anyone takes this offer up they may have to wait awhile to collect tho...

So I assume India is going to take some action against this official?

[barb162]

21. I like this solution. Issue counter-fatwas on the fatwas!!! HAHA

It would be very nice if India shut this idiot up but the last I read is that the government of India is saying he is not speaking in his official government capacity.

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

11. didn't the U.S. offer M dollar BOUNTIES for killing certain "ENEMIES"?

I know I read something about it--there's actually a budget for it.
...anyone else know about that?

So I have to ask what's the difference?
Some dude does it in India because of religion-
While some dude _Bush does it here in the U.S. for his own agenda(which does incude religion also)-
This world is running a double standard--or is it just this country?(since we profess to spread justice and freedom)

[pop goes the weasel]

13. you tell me

I think offering rewards for killing people is noxious. That said, there is a difference between killing people who you believe are trying to kill you, and killing journalists and artists. Not that Bush hasn't had his fair share of journalists killed. But really, I don't care who is trying to have artists or journalists killed--that is wrong, whether you send in an army to do it or pay someone to do it.

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

15. have you seen the list of dead journalists in Iraq? on threads on DU

do a search on DU threads-
The list is unbelievable.
This govt has allowed so many "accidental" killings of journalists who may have intended expose certain"things"....
Remember the Itallian Diplomats?

But what I was talking about was bounties on peoples' heads sanctioned by our "just" and "freedom loving" govt.
What if the govts of well respected countries publicly placed million dollar bounties on those who did things they didn't like?
That would be a double standard --
-----and that's what these neocons have done here in the name of freedom.

So my point is it's not imorral when WE do it ?

But then that doesn't make it ok when "they" do it does it!


who is standing up and setting an example?

[barb162]

24. Are you saying having a bounty on bin Laden's head is the same

as on a cartoonist who was never involved with killing anyone?

I disagree with you about the journalists BTW. All I have to do is think back to Danny Pearl getting beheaded or the current kidnapped CSM journalist and I realize the journalists are taking their lives in their hands every day in the Mideast. Are you literally writing that bounties on the al qaida terrorists responsible for planning 9-11 are not okay?

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

32. yeah brah--I'm fer their team--you busted me!!

sarcasm off:

!!!!!!You ASK :
"Are you literally writing that bounties on the al qaida terrorists responsible for planning 9-11 are not okay?"

ARE YOU SERIOUS ???


How moral is paying for execution?
When the mob does it it's called a "hit".
Aren't fair trials, evidence and "innocent until proven guilty" the very foundation of Democracy?
Who needs Democracy when "alleged" criminals are executed by bounty hunters for a price?
You approve of the execution of people that this administration "claims" are the "Terrorists"?
They have a squeeky clean record of truth telling?
Like WMD's ?-This Administration ordered the invasion of a country and the be-heading of nearly 200 thousand Iraqis !!
Them Daisy cutters and Cluster bombs 'll take your head right off!! whap!
might I remind you that IRAQ had absolutey nothing to do with 911- your leader _busheven said so--

They even accuse the Democratically elected Chavez of being a terrorist!!
Any towel head can be Al KAYDUH!! if they say so you believe it?

Who wasn't paying attention at al in high school civics class?
C-on-s-t-i-t-u-t-i-o-n
C-i-v-i-l R-i-g-h-t-s
T-r-i-a-l b-y J-u-r-y

So "terrorists" can be anyone who gets accused? then killed?

I can't believe my fellow Americans are that dumb!!!
Especially Americans on a progressive discussion board.
If everyone's that dumb we deserve whatever we get !!

Say it again please--
I just want to make sure I heard you right-
Putting out a hit on accused "tearer-isshts" is ok-?????
~~OMG!!!we are in trouble!!

[LynnTheDem]

35. STANDING OVATION!!!!

WELL SAID!

[pop goes the weasel]

29. no kidding

Why else would I have brought up the murder of journalists by armies? I wasn't being hypothetical.

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

33. kiling people you "believe" are trying to kill you? What the hell is THAT?

what are you saying?
You're implying that I am saying killing Cartoonists is ok?
Re-read my post-you'll see I didn't say anything of the sort.
I just re-read yours-
You say killing Cartoonists is NOT ok --
But killing people who (and I quote)"you beieve are trying to kill you"--IS OK !!
That's pre- emption-
Your words indicate that you're supporting pre-emption-
That is the idea that you have the right to kill anyone you "think" is out to get you...

Paranoia determines who lives and who dies??!!
Not in MY Modern Society brah!
I say that anyone who thinks like that is themselves a danger to society and ends up in jail when they kill in MY Modern World!!

You and Barb162 are a perfect pair!!
Both of you seem to agree--I'll say that you both express an idea of a modern civilized society that is nothing like mine.
If you represent the opinion of the majority then we as a Nation are in for some big trouble...but I guess we deserve whatever we get.

Murkins thru and thru!

[pop goes the weasel]

37. huh?

I was agreeing with you that Bush's bounty was wrong, but making the point that they were for two different reasons.

Barb162? Who's that? I guess I'll have to go see.

Anyway, what I said was: "I think offering rewards for killing people is noxious. That said, there is a difference between killing people who you believe are trying to kill you, and killing journalists and artists. Not that Bush hasn't had his fair share of journalists killed. But really, I don't care who is trying to have artists or journalists killed--that is wrong, whether you send in an army to do it or pay someone to do it."

Now I will break it down for you.

"I think offering rewards for killing people is noxious."

Bush has offered rewards for the killing of leaders of Al Qaeda. The imams and others have offered rewards for the killing of cartoonists. I think they are both wrong.

"That said, there is a difference between killing people who you believe are trying to kill you, and killing journalists and artists."

There is evidence to support the notion that Osama bin Laden, et al., have actually killed Americans. Exactly why they have done so is debatable, but the Bushies believe it is because they hate Americans and want to kill more. The cartoonists have...what? killed anyone? No. Suggested killing anyone? No.

As for the part you find so disagreeable, "people you believe are trying to kill you," the bounties are on the heads of leaders of Al Qaeda. I was only talking about the bounties, not about the pre-emptive war. How I wish Bush had done nothing more than issue bounties. The Iraq war can not be justified. I don't think the Afghanistan war can be justified either. But anyway, I'm not conflating bounties with war here. You are. See, there really is a difference in the goals of the specified bounties.

"Not that Bush hasn't had his fair share of journalists killed."

But Bush has had journalists killed, and they weren't trying to kill anyone either, just do their jobs. So, Bush has done more than issue a fatwa, he's had people killed.

"But really, I don't care who is trying to have artists or journalists killed--that is wrong, whether you send in an army to do it or pay someone to do it."

Bush is having journalists killed under the pretext of war, unjustified war. The fatwa-givers are simply offering a reward to kill artists. Both are wrong. Bush is more wrong, because he has also started wars for needless reasons, killing hundreds of thousands, but just on the topic of having artists and journalists killed, Bush isn't offering bounties to have them killed. He's offering bounties to have Al Qaeda leaders killed. Once again, that's the difference between the bounties. Maybe it would be better if Bush did offer bounties on journalists. They'd at least have fair warning.

Anything else you'd like to lash out at me about?

[Texacrat]

26. Are you comparing Bin Laden to a cartoonist?

Major difference I would think.

[LynnTheDem]

36. NO difference UNTIL and UNLESS a trial by jury decided so.

[hollowdweller]

12. If he's got a spare 10mil why not help the poor Paki earthquake victims

Guy needs a foot up his ass!

[daleo]

14. I have my doubts about the story

I would like to know what was actually said - i.e. whether this was an actual offer, or blustering political rhetoric along the lines of "If it was up to me, I would give ten million, not one million".

He is the minister of state welfare in a state government. I very much doubt he has legal authority to use public funds for this, not to mention that it would be a crime under Indian law.

The whole thing is crazy.

"The death toll in clashes tied to protests over the cartoons has risen to 43."

[barb162]

22. Believe it, this man is a real case

http://news.webindia123.com/news/showdetails.asp?id=253675&cat=India

Uttar Pradesh minister repeats call for cartoonist's beheading
Lucknow | February 18, 2006 4:15:06 PM IST

"snip
When contacted, Yaqoob repeated his declaration and said: "Muslim women of Uttar Pradesh have decided to give away their jewellery to weigh in gold any one who beheads the cartoonist, while I would collect Rs.510 million and donate it to him.
snip"

[smirkymonkey]

23. What fucking idiots.

You would think they have more pressing issues to deal with, but no, hatred and intolerance take priority once again.

[barb162]

25. You got it

And I wonder if another nutcase is going to offer 15 million tomorrow. I wonder how many Indians are starving in Uttar Pradesh but this idiot is raising money for this.

[Tyler Durden]

16. Just more proof that humans are evolutionary obsolete.

I wonder how the next animals on the food chain will do after we make ourselves extinct?

[Skittles]

17. it is indeed a sad commentary on human beings

disgusting beyond belief

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

28. I know, but cats rule though. n/t

[barb162]

20. Too bad this idiot doesn't spend that money on the poor in India

I am sure there are plenty of poor in Uttar Pradesh

[Rainscents]

27. Isn't the cartoonist met with FOX owner few years ago?

I think there were tread about this few weeks ago here.

[KDLarsen]

30. It would help if people would start naming 'the cartoonist'

.. since there are 12 of them, all of them members of the Danish editorial cartoonists union who had been asked to depict Mohammad as the cartoonists saw him.

All of these fatwa's against 'the cartoonist' is becoming more and more interesting - sounds like the islamic world is about to get their new Emmanuel Goldstein.

[Deja Q]

31. Nice on India's part.

I wonder how long before they turn on the US as well.

Not that they haven't already, poking crass jokes against the US workforce...