Swedish artist provokes Muslims

Islamist groups are purportedly threatening Swedish artist Lars Vilks because of his provocative art. Vilks has undeservedly gained a reputation as the figurehead of freedom of expression, writes Göran Greider in the daily Dala-Demokraten: "I don't like Vilks' art project. He tries to provoke people who are at the bottom of Europe's social ladder and barely have access to public forums. And he doesn't seem to understand that shallow and cheap attacks on Islam can easily take on a colonialist character: Muslims are mainly in the Third World. ... It is also important who says something or creates a work of art. It's one thing if a comedian from an Islamic cultural background makes jokes about his culture and religious dogmas but it's another thing entirely when a white secularised man from the rich world does the same. ... Freedom of expression is one of the fundamental basic rights. But ... its power to shine should not be allowed to throw a shadow on critical awareness."

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