Zapiro to respond by cartoon

2010-05-27 12:08

Johannesburg - Cartoonist Jonathan Shapiro, widely known as Zapiro, will respond to the offence caused by his depiction of the Prophet Muhammad in a new cartoon to be published on Friday.

"Mr Shapiro has been swamped with calls from journalists, but he will be responding by cartoon in the Mail & Guardian on Friday," said his assistant, who declined to be named.

The Mail & Guardian's editor Nic Dawes said this week that the newspaper regretted the offence caused by Shapiro's cartoon.

Met with Muslim community

Dawes said the newspaper, along with Shapiro, met Muslim community representatives and business leaders in Johannesburg on Wednesday to discuss their concerns.

"We regret the offence caused by the cartoon and the pain experienced by many Muslims around the country," Dawes said.

The cartoon, published last Friday, depicts Muhammad lying on a couch complaining to a psychiatrist: "Other prophets have followers with a sense of humour!"

Dawes said in light of what the paper had learned since publishing the cartoon on Friday, it decided to review its editorial policy on religion, especially where it concerned the Prophet Muhammad.

The review would be informed by consultation with a variety of parties within the country and based on "the constitutional values of freedom of expression and the M&G's own values of social justice".

- SAPA