Ayaan talks with Flemming Rose about publishing the cartoons of the prophet Muhammad in the Danish publication, Jyllands-Posten, in 2005. Flemming and Ayaan cover the series of events, including a debate over self-censorship and freedom of speech in Denmark that later exploded into international protests, demonstrations, and hysteria abroad.

Flemming Rose is a Danish journalist, author and editor-in-chief of the The Freedom Letter, a new Danish media.

As culture editor of the newspaper Jyllands-Posten, Mr. Rose back in 2005 commissioned and published cartoons of the prophet Muhammad as part of a debate about self-censorship and fear imposing limitations on coverage of Islam in cultural life in Western Europa.

Mr. Rose is an international advocate for free speech. He is the author of three books on freedom of expression, among them The Tyranny of Silence: How One Cartoon Ignited a Global Debate on the Future of Free Speech, which in 2014 was listed among the 10 best non-fiction books by The Economist.

Follow him on Twitter @frihedsbrevet or check out his website here.

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Published in: Foreign Policy

There are 2 comments.

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  1. Taras Coolidge
    Taras
    @Taras

    The reason European governments fold, when challenged by Islamic radicals, is that Muslims are an increasing part of their electorate, usually allied with the parties of the left, oddly enough.

    Exceptionally important podcast.

    • #1
  2. colleenb Member
    colleenb
    @colleenb

    Good interview. It provided a lot of background about the publications of the cartoons and the aftermath that I did not know before. Thanks.

    • #2
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