Jytte Klausen talked about her book The Cartoons that Shook the World (Yale University Press, 2009). In her book she traces the controversy over the twelve cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammed that were published in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten on September 30, 2005. Five months later there were world-wide protests that caused debates about freedom of expression, blasphemy, and the nature of modern Islam. She argues that the protests were not a spontaneous emotional reaction arising out of the clash of Western and Islamic civilizations but were orchestrated by those with vested interests in elections and by Islamic extremists seeking to destabilize governments. She also discussed Yale University Press’s decision not to republish the cartoons in her book about the incident. Ms. Klausen showed the cartoons in question during her presentation. Zeyno Baran commented and moderated the discussion as Ms. Klausen responded to quetions from members of the audience. 
“Blasphemy and Inquiry: The Cartoons That Shook the World” was a program of the Center for Religious Freedom held Wednesday, September 23, 2009, 12:30 p.m.