Brandeis professor Jytte Klausen’s forthcoming book on the 12 Danish cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed that caused a worldwide debate will contain a scholarly discussion of the debate. But it will not contain reproductions of the cartoons. Based on the publisher’s discussions with 24 experts on terrorism and Islam, Yale University Press decided reprinting the cartoons and other depictions of Mohammed was just too dangerous.
According to the New York Times, Professor Klausen, “reluctantly accepted Yale University Press’s decision not to publish the cartoons. But she was disturbed by the withdrawal of the other representations of Muhammad. All of those images are widely available, Ms. Klausen said by telephone, adding that ‘Muslim friends, leaders and activists thought that the incident was misunderstood, so the cartoons needed to be reprinted so we could have a discussion about it.’”
She is also unhappy about YUP’s insistence that she sign a nondisclosure agreement before she can read the actual recommendations of the 24 experts. “‘I perceive it to be a gag order,” she said, after declining to sign. While she could understand why some of the individuals consulted might prefer to remain unidentified, she said, she did not see why she should be precluded from talking about their conclusions.”
The book should be available by November. Read more here.
