Contest Launched in Reaction to Danish Cartoon Controversy

By: E&P Staff The "First International Islamic Joke and Cartoon Competition" has been launched in response to the Danish cartoon controversy.

Details are at LaughYourHeadOff.org, a U.S.-based Web site.

The contest was launched "in order to support those editors, artists, and political figures who have defended artistic and press freedoms against the growing chorus of those who support some sort of censorship for publications and artworks deemed 'offensive,'" according to a press release issued by "Charles Martel."

"Martel" said he's using a pseudonym because of death threats that have been made by some Muslims angered at cartoons picturing the Prophet Muhammad. These cartoons were published by a Danish newspaper in September and, more recently, by papers in several other countries.