A recent episode of the hit animated series aired last week by Comedy Central has incurred the wrath of a Muslim group for portraying Muhammad in a bear costume.
The depiction perceived by some to be anti-Muslim, incited the U.S. based group to issue an internet warning to Matt Stone and Trey Parker, creators of the satirical animated show “South Park.”
Violent message posted online
The violent messages were posted on the site revolutionmuslim.com by Abu Talhah Al-Amrikee, who stated that the episode had "outright insulted" Muhammad.
He declared, "We have to warn Matt (Stone) and Trey (Parker) that what they are doing is stupid, and they will probably wind up like Theo van Gogh for airing this show. This is not a threat, but a warning of the reality of what will likely happen to them."
Graphic images depicting the mutilated body of Dutch filmmaker Theo Van Gogh were posted who was murdered in Amsterdam by Mohammed Bouyeri, an Islamist fanatic, in November 2004 for addressing the abuse of women in some Muslim societies in a short documentary he made.
Over van Gogh's body is the caption "Theo van Gogh, after he was sent to Hell."
Author Salmon Rushdie, another victim of death threats over his book, "The Satanic Verses," was highlighted, as was Geert Wilders, a Dutch politician critical of radical Islam, and Kurt Westergaard, a cartoonist who had drawn fire over his depiction of Mohammed.
Younus Abdullah Muhammad, the self-proclaimed leader of Revolution Muslims, declared that the sharia law permits the killing of anyone who humiliates or mocks the prophet.
“If it happens to them, they deserve it,” said Mr. Muhammad. “South Park plays a role in the hedonistic, vice-based society that keeps America ignorant.”
South Park tried to use Muhammad in an episode earlier but on facing threats from the radical Muslim community, Comedy Central pulled the plug, censoring them from showing the image of the Prophet on the program.
In the 200th episode, the creators went back to that delicate topic which also included the founders of other religions, including Buddhists, Christians and Jews.
However, abiding by the deal not to show Muhammad, the show referred to him hiding in a moving van and concealed his face in a mascot costume.
The warning has apparently failed to create a dent. The "South Park" web site said the Muhammad plot line would continue in a new episode.
On Wednesday, the web site was taken down. However, Stone, Parker and Comedy Central declined to comment on the issue or reveal whether they were taking any precautions because of threats.
The depiction perceived by some to be anti-Muslim, incited the U.S. based group to issue an internet warning to Matt Stone and Trey Parker, creators of the satirical animated show “South Park.”
Violent message posted online
The violent messages were posted on the site revolutionmuslim.com by Abu Talhah Al-Amrikee, who stated that the episode had "outright insulted" Muhammad.
He declared, "We have to warn Matt (Stone) and Trey (Parker) that what they are doing is stupid, and they will probably wind up like Theo van Gogh for airing this show. This is not a threat, but a warning of the reality of what will likely happen to them."
Graphic images depicting the mutilated body of Dutch filmmaker Theo Van Gogh were posted who was murdered in Amsterdam by Mohammed Bouyeri, an Islamist fanatic, in November 2004 for addressing the abuse of women in some Muslim societies in a short documentary he made.
Over van Gogh's body is the caption "Theo van Gogh, after he was sent to Hell."
Author Salmon Rushdie, another victim of death threats over his book, "The Satanic Verses," was highlighted, as was Geert Wilders, a Dutch politician critical of radical Islam, and Kurt Westergaard, a cartoonist who had drawn fire over his depiction of Mohammed.
Younus Abdullah Muhammad, the self-proclaimed leader of Revolution Muslims, declared that the sharia law permits the killing of anyone who humiliates or mocks the prophet.
“If it happens to them, they deserve it,” said Mr. Muhammad. “South Park plays a role in the hedonistic, vice-based society that keeps America ignorant.”
The violent messages posted on the site revolutionmuslim.com by Abu Talhah Al-Amrikee stated, "We have to warn Matt (Stone) and Trey (Parker) that what they are doing is stupid, and they will probably wind up like Theo van Gogh for airing this show. This is not a threat, but a warning of the reality of what will likely happen to them."The episode in question
South Park tried to use Muhammad in an episode earlier but on facing threats from the radical Muslim community, Comedy Central pulled the plug, censoring them from showing the image of the Prophet on the program.
In the 200th episode, the creators went back to that delicate topic which also included the founders of other religions, including Buddhists, Christians and Jews.
However, abiding by the deal not to show Muhammad, the show referred to him hiding in a moving van and concealed his face in a mascot costume.
The warning has apparently failed to create a dent. The "South Park" web site said the Muhammad plot line would continue in a new episode.
On Wednesday, the web site was taken down. However, Stone, Parker and Comedy Central declined to comment on the issue or reveal whether they were taking any precautions because of threats.