Ignored & Unreported: Muslim Cartoonists Make Fun of ISIS

[Didymus 34,380]

Must-read article by C. Gruber for Newsweek.com!

http://www.newsweek.com/ignored-and-unreported-muslim-cartoonists-are-poking-fun-isis-332040

Mentioned cartoons (I offered explanation spoilers where needed):

Explanation:

 

Jehad Awartani depicts the bloodstained hands of a hooded and snarling Daesh fighter, who holds a gilt frame at gunpoint. Inside the Baroque trimming are inscribed the words “The Image of Islam” (Surat al-Islam). The cartoon is crystal clear in its message: Islam is depicted as held hostage by its extremist minority.

 

Explanation:

 

Each victim has a part of his body outlined in orange, providing the five Arabic letters that spell out the word “Islam.” Through his cartoon commentary, Hajjaj shows the collective embodiment of Islam as a lamb to slaughter under ISIS’s violent subjugation.

 

 

Explanation:

 

Awartani uses the decapitation motif to show Daesh fighters slitting the throats of “humanity” and the “heritage of humanity,” the latter sporting the head of an Assyrian Lamassu sculpture.

 

Explanation:

 

The Iranian cartoonist Mehdi (“Amo”) Rasooli shows two self-satisfied fighters carrying a beheaded Lamassu, whose hoofs are tied to a pole as if it were a lamb about to be slaughtered on the Islamic “Feast of Sacrifice” known as Eid al-Adha. The visual commentary offered here criticizes the sacrifice of cultural heritage in Iraq while also mocking ISIS’s confusion between animate life and inanimate objects.

 

Important quotes:

"Recently, an attack on a Muhammad cartoon contest held in Garland, Texas, was foiled by local police, leaving two gunmen dead. The event was organized by Pamela Geller, a self-appointed “expert” on Islamic terrorism and jihad, who makes a lucrative living pandering Islamophobic clichés that many commentators have a--logized to hate speech. While a number of Geller’s trenchant discourses on Islam have been taken up by writers, one of her statements declaring that Judeo-Christian culture is superior to Islam because “Islam does not allow humor” appears to have fallen on deaf ears."

"To point out that humor has thrived in Islamic lands for centuries would be painfully obvious for those who have studied the basics of world history. Yet it seems critical to do just that at this particular juncture. Comic strips have been a staple of Arab culture since the early 20th century, and today a thriving community of Muslim cartoonists living across the world regularly comment on political and cultural events, often with daring intelligence and raw wit."

"Over the past year, cartoonists across the Middle East have critiqued ISIS with equal amounts of ferocity and fearlessness. From Jordan to Iran, they frequently lambast ISIS—referring to it through its acronym Daesh, which is related to the pejorative Arabic term meaning “to tread under foot”—as destructive of Islam and the world’s cultural heritage, as the growling lapdog of various superpowers, as the ultimate devil and grim reaper of Iraq."

"These ideological contra-positions within cartoons and rhetoric are jarring, in large part because the battle over who is allowed to define and represent Islam rages on today. Within the Islamic world, the condemnations of ISIS and radical Islam are fierce and ubiquitous. These, however, largely go unnoted in Euro-American media, most likely because they do not make for sensational stories."

"As ba--l as it may seem, it is important to note that, despite all the violence and loss, the vast majority of Muslims continue to peacefully embody and practice the Islamic faith while also laboring to preserve the world’s artistic and cultural heritage in the Middle East. Among them, cartoonists consistently take ISIS to task through their astute commentary on harrowing circumstances. "

[AgusPop 4,162]

Perfect. they are murderers. They Do not deserve respect

[UC PiXELVISION 353]

This is amazing i wanna cry like... #StandingUpForWhatsRight

[The Child 18,997]

Perfect. they are murderers. They Do not deserve respect

​Since when all muslims are murderers ? 

[Didymus 34,380]

​Since when all muslims are murderers ? 

​He's referring to ISIS, dear.

[The Child 18,997]

​He's referring to ISIS, dear.

​I know but he should be more explicit in his post.

[HANZ 4,380]

​I know but he should be more explicit in his post.

​this thread is obviously about ISIS and so is that comment

anyway I agree wtih everything about this article, they are scums

[Cocaine Heart 4,768]

I was reading about this yesterday. Their work isn't really published much outside of the middle east and certain parts of Africa. Unless you go looking for it or are subscribed to certain sites, it's difficult to come across this.

Either way they are very brave to be creating these cartoons, I applaud their work. Although I don't really agree with some of the representations. 

[Didymus 34,380]

Although I don't really agree with some of the representations. 

​That's interesting, do you mind sharing some of your thoughts about it?

[PartySick 174,655]

Obviously it goes unreported. At least in the U.S. It doesn't support the idea that Muslims are anti-American, blood-thirsty savages. Keep them stupid, tell them whatever you want, and they'll support you in whatever you do. It's how the majority of American politics work, especially the Republican and conservative side.

I applaud these Muslims for trying to show the world that ISIS (and other terrorist groups) may use the Muslim religion to justify their attacks, but that's not what Islam is celebrated as by the majority of Muslim people.

Much love to people of all beliefs  

[The Child 18,997]

I would like to say that killing people won't change the world just like making fun of others won't change the world. The two camps are doing it wrong.

[Didymus 34,380]

I would like to say that killing people won't change the world just like making fun of others won't change the world. The two camps are doing it wrong.

​Well, then do you have a suggestion what will change the world then?

I do think humor can be a valuable weapon. It takes the edge off of delicate issues and can, at the same time, provoke thought like in these smart cartoons and stimulate conversation. It's also the best remedy against fear. Fear too often leads to drastic actions and enlarges "the enemy". As is often said by smart people: Islamic terrorists are a minority amongst millions of peaceful Muslims, yet many people can't help but see things differently since only these terrorists make the news and represent "Islam" and "Muslims". I do believe that initiatives like this can change the world to the extent of prejudice and misunderstandings being gently removed.

[The Child 18,997]

​Well, then do you have a suggestion what will change the world then?

I do think humor can be a valuable weapon. It takes the edge off of delicate issues and can, at the same time, provoke thought like in these smart cartoons and stimulate conversation. It's also the best remedy against fear. Fear too often leads to drastic actions and enlarges "the enemy". As is often said by smart people: Islamic terrorists are a minority amongst millions of peaceful Muslims, yet many people can't help but see things differently since only these terrorists make the news and represent "Islam" and "Muslims". I do believe that initiatives like this can change the world to the extent of prejudice and misunderstandings being gently removed.

​What will change the world is education, love, helping each other, being tolerent, nice, not judging each other. All of this will unite humanity and if we are united, people will no longer have fear and people will no longer be killed because of ignorant people.

[Didymus 34,380]

​What will change the world is education, love, helping each other, being tolerent, nice, not judging each other. All of this will unite humanity and if we are united, people will no longer have fear and people will no longer be killed because of ignorant people.

​But then what do you do when a group of people actively promotes the killing of innocent civilians in the name of a bigger political conflict? Do we send them more weapons in a tolerant sprit, or what, I don't understand.

I follow your logic if the world was at complete peace but until then you might wanna come up with a better idea I don't think it has much practical value in the present.

[The Child 18,997]

​But then what do you do when a group of people actively promotes the killing of innocent civilians in the name of a bigger political conflict? Do we send them more weapons in a tolerant sprit, or what, I don't understand.

I follow your logic if the world was at complete peace but until then you might wanna come up with a better idea I don't think it has much practical value in the present.

​They can talk with them, fire isn't stopped by putting more fire on it, it's stopped by water.

Discussion is the best thing we can do, we're not animals to fight each other.