Lain

Wikipedia defies 180,000 demands to remove images of the Prophet


Wikipedia, the free online encyclopaedia, is refusing to remove medieval artistic depictions of the Prophet Muhammad, despite being flooded with complaints from Muslims demanding the images be deleted.

More than 180,000 worldwide have joined an online protest claiming the images, shown on European-language pages and taken from Persian and Ottoman miniatures dating from the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries, are offensive to Islam, which prohibits any representation of Muhammad. But the defiant editors of the encyclopaedia insist they will not bow to pressure and say anyone objecting to the controversial images can simply adjust their computers so they do not have to look at them.

The images at the centre of the protest appear on most of the European versions of the web encyclopaedia, though not on Arabic sites. On two of the images, Muhammad's face is veiled, a practice followed in Islamic art since the 16th century. But on two others, one from 1315, which is the earliest surviving depiction of the prophet, and the other from the 15th century, his face is shown. Some protesters are claiming the pictures have been posted simply to 'bait' and 'insult' Muslims and argue the least Wikipedia can do is blur or blank out the faces.

Such has been the adverse reaction, Wikipedia has been forced to set up a separate page on its site explaining why it refuses to bow to pressure and has also had to set up measures to block people from 'editing' the pages themselves.

In a robust statement on the site, its editors state: 'Wikipedia recognises that there are cultural traditions among some Muslim groups that prohibit depictions of Muhammad and other prophets and that some Muslims are offended when those traditions are violated. However, the prohibitions are not universal among Muslim communities, particularly with the Shia who, while prohibiting the images, are less strict about it.

'Since Wikipedia is an encyclopedia with the goal of representing all topics from a neutral point of view, Wikipedia is not censored for the benefit of any particular group.

'So long as they are relevant to the article and do not violate any of Wikipedia's existing policies, nor the law of the US state of Florida where Wikipedia's servers are hosted, no content or images will be removed because people find them objectionable or offensive.'

The traditional reason given for the Islamic prohibition on images of prophets it to prevent them from becoming objects of worship in a form of idolatry. But, say the editors, the images used were examples of how Muhammad has been depicted by various Islamic sects through history and not in a religious context.
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Source: Link

Well, I heard the whole story about it a couple of weeks ago, although it's only this morning I found out that Wikipedia won't remove it.

Papri

Well I'm not surprised they won't remove it, and I don't see why they should.

There are artistic depictions that have a historical resonance too; they don't claim to be exact likenesses but they show that Muslims in the middle ages/early modern period were actually a lot more open minded about these issues. (As a Muslim) I think I'm not alone when I say that the people who complain about the depiction of some non-offensive pictures should really start focusing on some REAL issues affecting the Muslim world; ie, oppression, starvation, war, intellectual stifling, etc....

sunnykerr

Agreed. It feels like a lot of religious expression these days (and I'm talking from all sides here) boils down to nitpicking over silly, non-essential stuff.

Jen Jaree

Sounds like a South Park episode

covington

I agree (also as a muslim) its ridiculous.

quaist

Well, I agree with Papri, the focus of those people who're complaining about art should really focus on more urgent and important topics. But some believers are that radical and seem to want censorship...