Prophet shown complaining to a psychiatrist that followers of other religions have a sense of humour
David Smith in Johannesburg
Staff at South African newspaper received threatening phone calls today after publishing a satirical cartoon depicting the prophet Muhammad.
The image, in the Mail & Guardian, shows Muhammad lying on a couch complaining to a psychiatrist: "Other prophets have followers with a sense of humour!..."
The Council of Muslim Theologians in South Africa went to court last night in an unsuccessful attempt to block publication of the illustration, drawn by the controversial political cartoonist Zapiro.
Today the paper's editor-in-chief, Nic Dawes, and other staff were fielding calls from angry readers. Anonymous comments included "You've got to watch your back," and "This will cost him his life".
The cartoon was Zapiro's response to a Facebook page, "Everybody Draw Muhammad Day", which was prompted by threats from a radical Muslim group against the creators of the American TV series South Park for depicting the prophet in a bear suit.
In 2005 a Danish newspaper published cartoons of Muhammad which were subsequently republished elsewhere, sparking violent protests that killed several dozen people.
South Africa's Muslim Judicial Council was today holding an emergency conference to discuss the Zapiro cartoon with the intention of requesting "a very personal meeting" with him. Link
