Complete utter nonsense: "Offended by Cartoons" Muslim Pinheads Boycott the Danes
Lounsbury issues a scathing response to the Islamist "cretins" who have succesfully revived the "ancient art of demagoguery" by deliberately misrepresenting the issue in order to provoke widespread anti-Danish (and by extension anti-West) feeling. [January 30, 2006]

More Comments on Complete and Utter Nonsense
Bint ash-Shaitan (don't ask, because we won't tell) flips off Saudi surveillance to document reactions in the Kingdom, in particular religious television channels, popular opinion and even text messages. [January 31, 2006]

Cartoons, Manufactured Outrage, Tolerance & Dissent
Lounsbury returns to describe the prime drivers of this incident and further elaborates on the motives and interests of Salafist separatists (who disapprove of contact with non-Muslims in principle). He notes the general absence of sane responses from Muslim leaders, but acknowledges the Canadian Muslim Association's reasonable commentary on the matter. [February 2, 2006]

Background story to the "Danish cartoons" issue - and commentary
Raf* provides readers with details on the Mideast "road show" undertaken by a young Danish imam and his associates to raise awareness about anti-Muslim discrimination in Europe. The dossier of evidence, assembled and presented by Akkari et al, contained the published cartoons as well as some unpublished drawings of dubious origin. Comments on this entry are excellent and worth reading. [February 3, 2006]

Why do the Syrians burn embassies but the Iranians don't?
Raf* comments on the conspicuous presence (or absence) of protests in certain MENA countries, linking these to specific local conditions, rather than a broader "Islamic rage". [Februrary 4, 2006]

"No Offend Chinese Women": Denmark and the Mutation of Organized Protest
Matthew Hogan draws a parallel between the Mideast protests and demonstrations occuring in China prior to Tianmen. He ponders the possibility of a "silver lining" where mass action over Danish cartoons might pave the way for organized popular protests and greater political participation in the Mideast. [February 5, 2006]

Cartoon Outrage: Salafist Entreprenurial Behaviour, Manufacturing Incidents & the Problem of Moderation
Warning readers (well, subliterate dimwits and knee-jerkers) in advance that nuance is important when considering MENA issues, Lounsbury offers a detailed analysis of the cartoon protests and the underlying Salafi-Jihadi agenda. He also describes the lost moderate voice (pious and disgusted by acts of terror, but wary of the West) and notes the lack of media attention on MENA residents who did not respond the controversy (e.g. “Millions of Maghrebines don’t particularly bother to do anything about Danish cartoons” is a rather boring headline). [February 6, 2006]

Neandernews: Danish Imams Busted
Neandernews reports that the "pig snout" depiction of Mohammed was actually a photo from the French Pig-Squealing Championships in Trie-sur-Baise (Photo sources: Neandernews and MSNBC). [February 6, 2006]

Salafist Entrepreneurial Behavior: A Previous Incident Noted
Recalling the Alexandria riots last year, Tom Scudder observes that after-the-fact incitement and political opportunism often go hand in hand. [February 7, 2006]

Mobilisation and Redirection of Anger: The Emergence of a Common Message
Meph examines religious messaging in the wake of the Danish cartoon controversy and explains how these calls for solidarity are rooted in the rejection of the West. By presenting the Islamic path as the only viable option against a backdrop of secular and western failures, religious scholars aim to convince Muslims that the renaissance of the Islamic people can only be achieved by turning away from Western ideals. [February 7, 2006]

'Aqoul quoted in Financial Times
Financial Times cites 'Aqoul extensively in a survey of blogosphere responses to the Danish cartoons. This is the second major publication to reference 'Aqoul, but this time it wasn't over something utterly trivial. [February 8, 2006]

Open Discussion: MENA, Muslim Minorities & Moderation
Lounsbury considers the problem of building consensus among moderate Muslims and explores the notion of a "pious middle" - Muslims who are horrified by the bloody-mindedness of Zarqawi-type terrorism but at the same time distrustful of the West. Engaging this group in meaningful dialogue is a challenge if one doesn't clearly understand what moderation means in a MENA context. [February 9, 2006]

Cartoons: Reasonable Protest
A quick note from Lounsbury draws attention to the recent peaceful protests by Muslims in Paris and London, condemning both the portrayal of Mohammed and the violence that ensued. [February 12, 2006]

Contrarian Cartoon Commentary: Mechanics in Politics and Boycotts
Matthew Hogan elaborates further on his argument that the cartoon controversy may help create conditions for facilitating real political participation in the region. As with the Chinese anti-African riots, political mobilization over Danish cartoons can lead to constructive activism in other spheres as well. [February 16, 2006]