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Oslo, April 23,
2010 -- Kurt Westergaard , the man behind the most
controversial cartoons of Prophet of Islam said, he has been
asked to be retired against his will.
Westergaard is 74 years old and is still working for
Jyllands-Posten, the newspaper that first printed the
caricatures of the Muslim Prophet Muhammad in 2005.
It is not unusual that Jyllands-Posten lets employees keep
the job after they have reached retirement age in Denmark is
67 years. Westergaard says that he has been asked to give up
now.
- It is a forced leave, but it looks like I'm retired, "said
the artist told AFP.
- Security risk
He has recently received numerous death threats and been the
victim of an assassination attempt. Although he believes
that he is encouraged to continue the job but he has become
a danger to the safety of other colleagues.
- It's a shame. I have been too great a burden and a huge
security risk, "said Westergaard.
He says he has not submitted drawings to the newspaper the
last six months.
- Management was concerned that two men were arrested in
Chicago last year for plotting attacks against
Jyllands-Posten, and after the attack on me in January,
"explains the controversial artist.
He says he probably will accept to be retired, but that he
will have a meeting with the newspaper's management in early
June to discuss the future. To the other media have
Westergaard said he even considers giving up, Without
mentioning the conflict with the employer.
Monitored by the police
The his controversial drawings of Prophet of Islam was
published in several countries including Denmark and Norway
in 2005, which caused protest in several Muslim countries,
and the embassies of Denmark and Norway were set on fire in
the Syrian capital of Damascus.
Westergård’s property is under constantly police
surveillance since these events.
In 2008, Danish police arrested several people suspected of
plotting to kill the newspaper cartoonist. And on New Year's
Day this year Somalian armed man arrested who breaks into
Westergård home and wanted to attempt. The Cartoonist saved
himself by seeking refuge in a specially built room.
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