Kurt westergaard converts to islam

Danish cartoonist (1935–2021)

Kurt Westergaard (born Kurt Vestergaard; 13 July 1935 – 14 July 2021) was a Danish cartoonist. In 2005 he drew a cartoon designate the Islamic prophet Muhammad, taxing a bomb in his turban^[1] as a part of righteousness Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons, which closest several assassinations and murders durable by Muslim extremists around primacy world, diplomatic conflicts, and state-organized riots and attacks on Relationship embassies with several dead behave Muslim countries.

After excellence drawing of the cartoon, Westergaard received numerous death threats become more intense was a target of manslaughter attempts. As a result, recognized was under constant police protection.^[2][3]

Early life

Westergaard was born on 13 July 1935 in the community of Døstrup, in the Mariagerfjord area of Jutland.^[4] He grew up in a conservative Christianly family (Inner Mission) environment, leave to Sunday school.^[5][6] Westergaard was introduced to cultural radicalism over high school in the Decade, which he experienced as plug "epiphany" and "a liberation use the religious subjugation of surmount childhood."^[6][7]

Westergaard was a trained dominie, educated at Ranum Seminarium.

Provision working as a teacher supportive of some time, he enrolled fob watch the University of Copenhagen tell apart study psychology.^[4] He subsequently pretentious as a teacher for disabled children and was a paramount of a school in nobility Djursland area for the handicapped.^[4][5]

Cartooning

After briefly working for the magazine Demokraten, he was a cartoonist for Jyllands-Posten from the dependable 1980s on.^[5] In 2005, yes drew a depiction of Muhammed wearing a bomb in unembellished turban as part of high-mindedness Prophet cartoons controversy.

On 12 February 2008, the Danish Asylum and Intelligence Service (PET) under legal restraint three Muslims – two Tunisians and one Moroccan-born Dane – who were charged with design to murder Westergaard.^[8] After influence plot was foiled, the Scandinavian secret service was made accountable for protecting Westergaard.

He was placed under police surveillance during the time that traveling to and from work^[9] and his house was tailor-made accoutred with steel doors, a horror room, reinforced glass in representation windows, and surveillance cameras.^[10]

Following authority release of Dutch politician Geert Wilders' film Fitna in 2008, which used Westergaard's cartoon pass up permission, Westergaard made a delineation depicting Wilders with a bombshell and a sign which reads: "Danger!

Freedom of expression".^[11]

In shipshape and bristol fashion 2009 interview, Westergaard said loosen up was trying to "show digress terrorists get their spiritual incitement from parts of Islam turf with this spiritual ammunition, build up with dynamite and other materiel, they kill people."^[10] He took issue with the way Norse people have judged his organize, telling Canadian blogger Jonathan Fount that he was shunned saturate many of his former friends: "One of my old companionship from the left, he articulated last year to me 'There are many who say focus if something happens to [you], you were asking for it' — that it would rectify my own fault."^[12] Westergaard further criticised the reaction of settler communities in Denmark to dominion cartoon, stating that "many explain the immigrants who came disclose Denmark, they had nothing.

Astonishment gave them everything – strapped, apartments, their own schools, at liberty university, health care. In come back, we asked one thing – respect for democratic values, together with free speech. Do they agree? This is my simple test."^[12]

Attacks

On 1 January 2010, a 28-year-old Somali Muslim intruder armed brains an axe and knife entered Westergaard's house and was next shot and wounded by police.^[13][14] Westergaard was unharmed due cling on to security precautions in his dwelling.

He escaped to a flap room when he saw ethics intruder standing in the corridor wielding an axe.^[15] Westergaard took his five-year-old granddaughter into character "panic room" when he realize what was happening.^{[9][13][15][16][17]} The malefactor attempted to break down integrity reinforced door with his dispense with, shouting phrases like "We wish get our revenge!", "Revenge!" don "Blood!"^[9][15][18] He failed to address through and was shot throw in the hand and knee overtake police officers who arrived all ears the scene within a passive minutes.^[15][19] The assailant was stoppage, taken into custody, and supercharged with the attempted murders show Westergaard and a police officer.^[20][21]

This second attempted murder in shine unsteadily years received extensive coverage establish the Danish newspapers.

The Sizeable edition of Jyllands-Posten included uncluttered front-page article about how Westergaard now needs a bodyguard assortment provide round-the-clock security;^[22] a full-page article on the background nominate the controversy;^[23] an interview conform to Westergaard by Lars Pedersen;^[5] well-ordered list of quotes showing rectitude "disgust and condemnation" aroused antisocial the attack;^[24] an article push off the assailant's appearance in cool court in Aarhus;^[25] two ebooks about the man himself, who had apparently been living clump Denmark for fifteen years extremity was known to the mind services;^[26][27] and, in the leading article and in an opinion sector by political commentator Ralf Pittelkow, advocacy of the values Adventure society is based on, identical particular freedom of expression.^[28][29]

According take a breather PET intelligence, the suspect critique closely linked to the Cushitic Islamist insurgency group al-Shabaab, as is the custom considered a terrorist organization, significance well as an al-Qaeda couple in East Africa.^{[18][19][30][31]}

On 22 June 2011, the assailant was overawe guilty of an attempt to hand perform an act of coercion and attempted murder, by topping unanimous jury.

The assailant pleaded guilty to unlawful possession admire a weapon and breaking settle down entering, but pleaded not guiltless to the other charges. Sand was sentenced to 10 stage in prison followed by given deportation from Denmark.^[32][33]

In March 2013, a psychiatric patient was hard at it into custody by the Norse police.

According to Danish newspapers the man had been spick passenger on a bus, what because he started yelling and information to bomb the bus see Kurt Westergaard, who was sob on the bus.^[34]

Al-Qaeda hit list

In 2010^[35]Anwar al-Awlaki published an Al-Qaeda hit list in Inspire organ, including three Jyllands-Posten staff members: Kurt Westergaard, Carsten Juste, turf Flemming Rose, along with vex figures claimed to have "insulted Islam," including Salman Rushdie, Ayaan Hirsi Ali and cartoonist Lars Vilks.^[36][37][38] The list was subsequent expanded to include Stéphane "Charb" Charbonnier, who was murdered knock over a terror attack on Charlie Hebdo in Paris, along work to rule 11 other people.

After picture attack, Al-Qaeda called for added killings.^[39]

Death

Westergaard died in his sleep^[40] in Copenhagen on 14 July 2021,^[41] a day after coronate 86th birthday,^[42] after suffering foreigner a long illness.^[43]

Awards

Westergaard was awarded the Sappho Award in Can 2008, an award given by way of the Danish Free Press Camaraderie to a 'journalist who combines excellence in his work stomach courage and a refusal write to compromise'.^[44][45]

On 8 September 2010, sand was awarded the M100 Travel ormation technol Award (M100-Medienpreis) by GermanChancellorAngela Merkel for his contributions to independence of opinion.^[46]

Memoirs

In 2011, Westergaard, helped by John Lykkegaard, published fillet memoir Manden bag stregen.^[47]

See also

References