-Caveat Lector- [I wonder what rung Dante would have placed self-appointed, self-righteous cultural censors on?] Italian Muslims Demand Destruction Of Offensive Painting http://www.islam-online.net/english/News/2001-06/30/article3.shtml WASHINGTON, June 29 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - A 15th-century fresco on a cathedral wall in Italy that depicts the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) being thrown into hell is firing up outraged protesters in Italy and the U.K., The Times in Britain reported Friday. The Bologna Cathedral painting by Giovanni da Modena is based on medieval ideas of Heaven and Hell perpetuated by the Italian medieval poet Dante Alighieri, whose famous novel "The Inferno" describes a detailed visit to Hell, in which he had placed the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) in the ninth circle of Hell, The Times said. The Union of Italian Muslims, a recently-formed group, sent a letter to the Pope and the Archbishop of Bologna complaining about the fresco, saying that Islam's holy prophet was portrayed being "thrown into hell, completely naked, with a snake wrapped around his body and a demon next to him about to torture him." They demanded the fresco be removed or destroyed, and they rallied Friday outside the main mosque in Rome to protest the painting, The Times reported. The article quoted a spokesman for the Archbishop saying yesterday that it was "absurd to suddenly discover after 600 years that our most famous treasure is offensive to the Islamic religion." In the U.K., British Muslim leaders expressed concurrence with Italian Muslims' outrage, The Times said in another article, quoting Dr. Yaqub Zaki, deputy director of the U.K. Muslim Institute: "It is clearly offensive. The Islamic community in Europe is so much more articulate and aware than ever before, and this incident could cause a lot of trouble." "Firstly, its depiction of the Prophet is objectionable since it is conducive to idolatry. Secondly, Dante's original description of the Prophet as a heretical Christian, upon which the fresco is based, is particularly offensive." But the leader of the Islamic Cultural Center in Bologna, Nabil Baioni, said the image was insignificant enough to be ignored, The Times reported. "I have lived here for 40 years and have never noticed the image before now," Baioni said. "It's rather difficult to see anyway." According to The Times, British Islamic scholar Gai Eaton also minimized the impact of the 600-year-old image, saying, "The mural is particularly offensive, but that does not mean that we as Muslims can demand its destruction, or the destruction of Dante's Divine Comedy either. "Muslims must be allowed to blow off steam, but beyond that we must put up with these things. It is not as if this is a contemporary work. It represents medieval Christian prejudice against Muslims at the height of the Islamic threat to Western Europe." There are about half a million Muslims registered legally in Italy, The Times said, but there may be up to another half million living illegally. Last month, IslamOnline reported on TIME magazine's publication of a fictional picture of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and its subsequent apology to Muslims. TIME ASIA editor published a statement claiming it was "an unintentional affront to Islamic sensibilities" and that "TIME regrets the publication of this image and apologizes for any inconvenience." According to Islam, illustrations or images of prophets, and especially of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), are strictly prohibited in Islam and considered blasphemy. The U.K. Muslim Institute's Zaki was quoted in The Times article as saying that under Islamic law the painter had committed a capital offense. "But what will they do?" he asked. "Sentence the artist posthumously?" <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. 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