Mufti Zukorlic’s photo-montage blunder
Muamer ef. Zukorlic, mufti of the Serbian Islamic community has sued Blic newspaper over a photo-montage of him in an Orthodox outfit greeting the Pope. Regardless of how lousy the photo-montage turned out, I see no reason for this kind of reaction from mufti. In return, he wants an apology from Blic which he already got and a settlement of one hundred million euros, which he probably won’t get.
This kind of mufti’s reaction has already caused a lot of confusion in Serbia because nobody ever reads the humor section in Blic, and if it weren’t for the mufti’s reaction, nobody would ever notice the stupid fotomontaza at all. This way, not only Blic got the advertisement, but the mufti also got his face plastered all over the net with various other montages as a sign of protest. Examples here, here and here.
Here’s the incriminating photomontage from Blic, so if Belgraded gets sued to, hopefully I’ll be able to churn out some change for the settlement.
The caption says: “More Catholic than the Pope”
I know this reminds of the infamous Mohammad cartoon controversy, but there is a huge difference – there was in my opinion no intent to provoke the Muslim community in this case. Still, mufti used the opportunity to present himself as a victim of a discrimination – the reaction of the public is probably a natural way of letting him know he thinks a little bit too high of himself.
I would, on the other hand, like to hear what the Muslim community has to say about this – is the joke offensive or not?
Tweet
Priest blessing a car
Money
Branko’s Bridge
We Are Sailing
Yeah, I do think it’s offensive, especially the caption. I wouldn’t know how a ortodx leader would react in that same situation ( e.g. to be put in a Muslim uniform and greeting a Budist leader for example, saying – more Budist than Dalai Lama). Maybe it would also be some kind of scandal, even though the author may not have had any attention of harming this religious comunity. But given the examples in the past, we have many times learned how sensitive Muslims are about their religion, and that even innocent caricatures can cause quite a stir. So, one reason more not to mock them in any way, never mind the author’s intent. And even, as you say, nobody reads this scetion in Blic, which I believe not to b truth, it is a public space and for everyone to see.
I don’t understand the joke.
He’s in Orthodox vestment and it says he’s more catholic than the pope.
What is trying to be said with this?
I think the joke has to do with mufti inviting Pope to visit Serbia before Othodox patriarch did. I’m not sure about this, I too am trying to find the context of the montage.
Mufti took a stupid joke and raised it to the level of “Blic’s continuation of genocide politics over Muslims” in his own words. This is why I have a problem with the case – his spin of the story. Blic already said they are sorry for offending him, but he keeps pumping the case and trying to present it as a deliberate offense, hate speech even, towards the whole Muslim community in Serbia. It’s foul play from mufti’s side.
@Quince: religious leaders should not be exempt from satire.
Orthodox leaders were satirized multiple times before, even patriarch Pavle, but it wasn’t understood as an attack towards the entire Orthodox community.
The Streisand Effect strikes again!!
I think you are correct: he invited pope from Vatican before Patriarch did. The issue here is that every bit and possibly chance Muslim leaders try to turn into “let’s get Serbs blackmailed again and again and again”... he has blown out this one out of proportion big time and it is actually turning to be right where it belongs ON BLIC’S HUMOR PAGE LOL … I could not believe he was asking for 100 million of euros – what a nerve to ask for that money…
When Patriarch Pavle was made in Photoshop Official Church Patriarch personnel has responded with comment of how inappropriate that was and life moved on. Nobody got killed or anything like that lol … that tells you what kind of religion is he (Muftija Zukorlic) promoting … the guy is known mobster in area of Novi Pazar… what are we talking about here???
[...] writes about the conflict between the mufti of the Serbian Islamic community and the Blic [...]
[...] escreve sobre o conflito entre o mufti da Comunidade Islâmica Sérvia e o jornal [...]