The anger that surged through the Muslim community was equaled by media outlets who felt that the religious group was attempting to bully publications into self-censorship, particularly after imams and some foriegn governments demanded criminal charges be brought against Jyllands-Posten (charges unfounded by Danish courts). In solidarity with the beseiged Danish newspaper, dozens of newspapers around the globe -- including The Philadelphia Inquirer, which became the target of protests -- reprinted one or more of the Muhammad cartoons. Many newspapers editors lost their jobs -- not just in Muslim nations, but in places such as Canada and the United Kingdom -- for reprinting the cartoons, and other newspapers were shut down entirely. In Jordan and Yemen, journalists went to prison for showing the cartoons.
The massive fallout from the Danish Muhammed cartoons put even broadcasters on edge. Although the Comedy Central series "South Park" portrayed a cartoon Muhammad in a 2001 episode and took no heat afterward, the image of Muhammad was censored from an episode that creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone made in response to the cartoon fiasco. "Much as we wish it weren't the case, times have changed and, as witnessed by the intense and deadly reaction to the publication of the Danish cartoons, decisions cannot be made in a vacuum without considering what impact they may have on innocent individuals around the globe," Comedy Central said in a statement.
The publishing of Muhammad images continues to spark debate and make the headlines:
Charlie Hebdo charged with insulting Muslims: The French satire magazine not only ran the controversial Danish cartoons, but included one of their own. In responses, the Paris Grand Mosque, the Union of Islamic Organisations of France, and the World Islamic League brought charges of offending Muslims against the magazine. Philippe Val, editor of Charlie Hebdo, had faced a possible six months in prison, but Charlie Hebdo was cleared in court.
'Opus' cartoons nixed because of references to Islam: After Berkeley Breathed drew two strips depicting character Lola Granola wanting to become an Islamic fundamentalist, the Washington Post Writers Group notified the 200 clients of "Opus" in advance, giving them the option to pull the strips, which many papers did. Salon.com ran the strips, along with an op-ed by Joan Walsh: "I thought the strip satirized loopy American seekers who customize world religions for their own needs, not Islam. But either way, it's cowardice to shun the strip. And newspapers wonder why they're dying?"
Swedish cartoonist goes into hiding after al-Qaida in Iraq puts price on his head: After drawing a cartoon that featured the head of Muhammad on the body of a dog, Lars Vilks was forced to go into hiding. The threats on his life included one from the leader of al-Qaida in Iraq, Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, who offered $100,000 for the murder of Vilks and an extra $50,000 if Vilks was "slaughtered like a lamb." Al-Baghdadi also offered $50,000 for the murder of the editor of Nerikes Allehanda, the newspaper that published the cartoon.
Cartoonist in Bangladesh arrested for allegedly disrespecting Islam: Arifur Rahman didn't draw Muhammad, yet put the name of the prophet before the word "cat." For this, he was arrested, and Islamists demanded the closure of newspaper Prothom Alo and the arrest of its editor, as well as "exemplary punishment" of Rahman. In 2006, about 25 journalists in Bangladesh were targeted by militant groups for allegedly writing "un-Islamic" pieces.
The debate will continue over whether newspapers should avoid images or writing deemed offensive to a particular religious group, particularly when publications come under threat for doing so. Said press-freedom organization Reporters Without Borders in the Charlie Hebdo case: "We hail the judges’ finding that the limits of free expression were not exceeded in this case. This ruling is a victory for press freedom and in no way is a defeat for a community. We hope it will set a judicial precedent."