Reuters is wrong

Peter sends along this Reuters article titled "Afghan convert controversy mirrors cartoons row". In case you don't know, a man named Abdul Rahman converted to Christianity in Afghanistan and has been sentenced to death for possessing a bible and being open about his conversion.

Tom Heneghan, Religion Editor of Reuters writes

"There have been no riots or sackings of Afghan embassies, unlike the violence that marked the uproar in Muslim countries after the Danish cartoons were published, but the shock and mutual incomprehension expressed in both cases are similar.

The difference lies in the issues at stake. In the cartoons row, Muslims stressed the sanctity of Mohammad, whom they say nobody -- even non-Muslims -- can criticize. The subtext was resentment against perceived Western prejudice against Islam.

Now, Western governments and societies are speaking out for religious freedom and against the death penalty. The fact many Western troops now help defend the Afghan government against al Qaeda and Taliban remnants heightened the outrage in the West."

I'm sorry, but what? WHAT!?!? The shock and mutual incomprehension expressed are similar? One group lost the plot over cartoons, pictures, drawings. The other over freedom, and a man's life that could end for having the wrong beliefs. The former burned downed embassies, declared freedom unnecessary, demanded that the world bend to their will. The latter planned peaceful protests and demanded that thought and beliefs not be penalized with death anywhere in 2006. There is no similarity here and trying to draw this parallel is absurd. Murder and mayhem over cartoons is NOT the same as criticism and anger over the killing of an innocent man. If Reuter's religion editor doesn't get that, how can we expect any understanding from the off-the-reservation Muslim world?