“Free Speech, Use It!” an Interview with Danish Cartoonist, Kurt Westergaard
by Jerry Gordon (October 2009)
Kurt Westergaard, the genial, but controversial Danish cartoonist who drew the ‘cartoon that shook the Muslim world,’ has just finished a whirlwind North American Tour sponsored by the Danish and International Free Press Societies. The tour was occasioned by the fourth anniversary of the publication of his famous Mohammed cartoon with a turban shaped like a bomb along with 11 others by the Danish newspaper, Jyllands-Posten (JP). Mr. Westergaard has had a long association with JP as one of Denmark premier satiric cartoonists. His appearances on this tour included events at Princeton and Yale Universities, a closed luncheon at the Manhattan Institute, a dinner with the Hudson Institute briefing council, TV and media interviews with the National Post in Toronto. We had facilitated the Manhattan Institute event and posted commentary and interviews about Mr. Westergaard’s appearances at Princeton and Yale. We were fortunate to have caught up with him through the auspices of a colleague, Bjorn Larsen, and held an interview prior to his departure to Denmark.
What follows is the interview with Mr. Westergaard.
Gordon: Mr. Westergaard, thank you for consenting to this interview:
Westergaard: You are welcome.
Gordon: How long have you been associated with JP as a satiric cartoonist?
Westergaard: About 28 years.
Gordon: What is the story behind your “rouge et noir costume” that has become your emblematic uniform?
Westergaard: It is my gimmick, the colors of anarchism, black and red. The red trousers stimulate my legs.
Gordon: The Danish Constitution guarantees Free Speech. How important is that to you as both a Dane and satiric cartoonist?
Westergaard: It is very important. There is no living as cartoonist without it. Every dynamic democracy needs freedom of speech
Gordon: What was the basic theme or message you wanted to convey in your Mohammed cartoon?
 Westergaard: It was to show Islamic terrorists who use parts of the holy book [Qur'an] as an inspiration to kill others. I was right. The drawing came to me, and as a result they wanted to kill me.
Gordon: What can you tell us about the Imams who publicized the JP cartoons in the Muslim world?
Westergaard: The Danish imams wanted support. The imams knew that they are important and can decide on behalf of their god what actions to take. The Bible in Genesis talks about man created in God’s image not the other way around.
Gordon: What was your first reaction to the destruction of Danish embassies, properties and deaths that occurred in Muslim countries in the wake of the Mohammed cartoons?
Westergaard: I was shocked. But did I feel responsible? No. The riots were staged by local machines in Muslim countries that diverted attention away from their people’s deplorable status. I am sorry about people being killed, but it was not my responsibility.
Gordon: Why do you think you were singled out for intense reaction by Muslims?
Westergaard: I believe that it was graphic elements of the cartoon which struck hard - the anarchist bomb and the Arabic inscription on the turban.
Gordon: You did an interview in September, 2006 on TV2 Denmark with Kasem Ahmad, spokesperson of the Islamic Council. What were your thoughts when he abruptly walked out, while being filmed? What message were you trying to convey and what was your reaction?
Westergaard: It was the most scary situation I have encountered. We started talking peacefully, on a couch, Ramadan had finished and we started to eat. Then he wanted another apology from me. I said no. The guy started yelling about my paper, and that Jewish/American dark forces owned the paper. He wanted to stop the broadcast. The news staff did not want to obey him. It all scared me. This man is highly intelligent, and educated as an engineer. I do not understand him. I wanted to talk to him, but never managed to establish contact again
Gordon: Kasem Ahmad in February, 2008 protested against freedom of speech in Denmark with Hizb ut Tahir leader Fadi Abulatif and called for extermination of Jews using Koranic verses. How did you and other Danes react to that?
Westergaard: We react very strongly against antisemitism by radical Muslims. Our history shows we care. We saved many Danish Jews in WWII. We sent them across the straits to freedom in Sweden
Gordon: When the Danish Security and Intelligence Service (P.E.T.) in February, 2008 arrested three men, a Dane and two Tunisians, in a plot to murder you, what happened to you and your family?
 Westergaard: We were heading to Paris for a weekend trip, when this story broke. But, instead, we had to be evacuated, late at night, to a safe house. We then had to move continuously among 8 to 10 safe houses for a while. We were pissed, angry. I was doing my job and now I was threatened, | wanted to strike back.
Gordon: For three years you and your wife were under protective security 24/7 by P.E.T., what did they do to safeguard you, how did your family adjust and when did the nightmare end?
Westergaard: The nightmare has not ended. Nevertheless, the PET people are there and are close good friends. They gave us 24/7 protection. We could call on them and they would respond. We have a good relationship.
Gordon: Despite your being in protective custody, you have been unstinting in speaking out and giving interviews to the press and media. What motivated you to do that?
Westergaard: My temperament. I refused to hide. This was also good therapy for me. By the way my family is multi-ethnic, multi-religious, multi-lingual. We have nice kids with marriages across a number of backgrounds that have produced wonderful grandchildren. This is a real example of how it CAN work
Gordon: In 2008 you drew another cartoon, this time depicting a burka clad pregnant Muslim woman with a belly shaped like a bomb. That became a poster for the Danish Free Press Society. What was the message behind that cartoon?
Westergaard: It was about the troubling demographic development in Denmark and Europe, the high birthrate among Muslims and being outnumbered by them.
Gordon: You have said repeatedly that you have no regrets about having penned your Mohammed cartoon, and yet others including the JP editors and even members of the Danish government have apologized. Why didn’t you apologize?
Westergaard: Why should I apologize? I was just doing my job. My tradition is what I followed, so I have nothing to apologize for.
Gordon: Given the threats against your life from radical Muslims, what are your views about Islam and Muslims in your native Denmark and Europe?
Westergaard: They came with nothing. We gave them everything to get started; money, homes, schools. The welfare state also provided free schooling. They have more freedom than they ever had where they came from. We simply want them to respect our democratic traditions.
Gordon: Dutch politician Geert Wilders is an advocate for an EU Free Speech law. Do you support him in this effort and why do you think protection of Free Speech is important?
Westergaard: Democracy cannot work without free speech. We tried the appeasement in the 30’s. We tried to stop, in 1933, making cartoons that were against Hitler and Nazi Germany. We shut down until 1940 and Germany occupied us anyway. It was a bitter failure and a lesson learned.
Gordon: You drew cartoons for a book by your friend Lars Hedegaard, columnist for the JP and head of the Danish Free Press Society. What themes did you convey?
Westergaard: I support Lars. He writes, I draw. His book contains some of his sharpest columns.
Gordon: You are just concluding a North American visit to the U.S. and Canada on the occasion of the fourth anniversary of the JP publication of the Mohammed cartoons. Who sponsored the tour? Where did you appear and what were the reactions of the audiences and media?
Westergaard: The FPS in Denmark and the IFPS in both Canada and the US sponsored my trip. I appeared at Princeton and Yale Universities, the Manhattan Institute and the Hudson Institute. In general, the responses were good, but there were also protests.
Gordon: What message do you want Americans and Canadians to remember from this tour?
Westergaard: if you want to do something about freedom of speech, then the only choice is USE IT, exercise it.
Mr. Westergaard, thank you for this important and memorable interview. We wish you safe travels back to Denmark and your family and admirers both there and here in North America.
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