Lawmakers in Denmark have come forward with a new proposal to publish blasphemous cartoons – the very same that could result in the terrorists attack on satirical Charlie Hebdo weekly in the nation’s school textbooks.
As per Washington Post reports, the country’s opposition leaders with the Conservative People’s Party and the Danish People’s Party has voiced their support for the idea.
Jyllands-Posten in September 2005 was the first to publish a series of 12 blasphemous cartoons which sparked protests in parts of the Islamic world.
“It would be natural for the cartoons to become part of the material that the teachers can choose to use,” said Conservative People’s Party spokeswoman Mai Mercado, to the local DR Nyheder publication.
As per Danish People’s Party, the teaching of the cartoons should be mandatory, and that the subject should be part of religious studies, The Post reported.
Dennis Hornhave Jacobsen, president of the Danish Association of History and Social Studies Teachers, believes teaching the cartoons in class is a bad idea because “it could end any real discussion about the nature of freedom of expression, because there are children in schools who believe the Muhammad cartoons are objectionable and the discussion will stop there.”
Claus Hjortdal of Denmark’s Headmaster Association told the BBC that he believes publishing the images will lead to singling out or bullying.
“One can easily talk about it without showing the images,” he said.