On Meph:

Writing on Aqoul, the Middle East discussion site, one contributor is highly critical of the role of Muslim clerics in the region - including the popular moderate Egyptian preacher Amr Khaled - whose broadcasts reach millions.

The clerics' "almost primary school religious class sermons" presented the view that “there is evidence from the Quran and the Sunna [traditions of the Prophet] to prove that the defence of the Prophet and the chastisement/punishment of infidels is incumbent upon the Muslim population."

In seeking to use the cartoon incident to forge a sense of solidarity among Muslims, they ended up presenting the affair to their followers as evidence that the west rejects the Islamic World, the author adds.

On raf*:

Ashraf al-Mansour, writing for Aqoul, finds it noteworthy that the nature of the protests differed so widely in the Middle East region. There were almost no demonstrations in the most populous Arab country, Egypt - home of the Muslim Brotherhood - but the violence in Palestine and Syria stood out as "extraordinary".

Al-Mansour sees this as an indication that the demonstrations were more rooted in the particular local situation rather than in an "Islamic rage". It is not that Egyptians, Turks or Iranians are inherently less violent than Palestinians and Syrians, but because the governments in those countries "simply didn't allow any violence against European institutions".

He notes that in Palestine, it was an offshoot of the secular Fatah - the al-Aqsa Martyr’s Brigade - that led the demonstrations against the cartoons, rather than the overtly Islamist groups Hamas or Islamic Jihad. This he sees as a reflection of the lack of authority of Fatah over its own followers in contrast with the discipline of Hamas.

The Lebanese government, on the other hand, “is the weakest in the region - but the ISF (Internal Security Forces) would rather shoot at demonstrators than let them damage an embassy."

I also note that Philip Stephens' article (sub only) agrees with The Lounsbury's line of thinking on Salafi-Jihadi opportunists trying to drive a wedge between East and West:

Philip Stephens: Cartoon row hijacked by extremists
By Philip Stephens
Published: February 6 2006 20:20 | Last updated: February 6 2006 20:20

In Britain and elsewhere, extremists have sought to hijack the anger of fellow Muslims to the wider ambition for a clash of civilisations. Those demanding execution of anyone deemed to insult the Prophet are not seeking mutual respect and accommodation. They are demanding that western societies bow to a version of Islam rejected by most of their co-religionists.

Well done, authors. We may now strut about like arrogant wankers.

I suppose I shall renew my FT subscription after all.