Norway: Koran art exhibition forced to close

Click the image to see more of Ahmed Mashhouri's work

Click the image to see more of Ahmed Mashhouri's work


Hours after a poster exhibition in the Telemark county library was opened to the public, it was physically attacked by three Muslim women, prompting the library to remove it from show.

Iranian artist Ahmed Mashhouri’s rather classy productions placed quotes from the Koran alongside his own graphics.

My aim is not to insult anybody and their faith. It’s to get a better understanding of the laws found in the Quran. These laws perhaps fit better in the old days, but today they just seem inhuman. I hope that my works will be a wake-up for my dear coreligionists,

Not everyone agrees. One of Mashouri’s students, Abdulkadir Mohammed, invited to the relocated exhibition in Porsgrunn, said:

I’m insulted. Is it necessary to create blasphemy and hate in this way? One must be careful with art.

He particularly objected to the verse 2.223 written above a woman’s bare breast. The verse reads:

Your wives are a tilth for you, so go into your tilth when you like, and do good beforehand for yourselves, and be careful (of your duty) to Allah, and know that you will meet Him, and give good news to the believers.

Right. On one hand we have a Koranic verse which has been used to support centuries of oppression, cited as an excuse to perpetuate female servitude and even marital rape. And on the other hand we have an image of a woman’s breast. One of these things is certainly sullied by the juxtaposition. But it’s not the one that Abdulkadir thinks.


3 Responses to “Norway: Koran art exhibition forced to close”

  1. barriejohn says:

    This is all so very predictable, and totally depressing. “One must be careful with art”!! What the bloody hell is the sad, demented lunatic talking about?!! I`m sure these screwball fanatics would find some offence in a blank canvas. (Go on – someone tell us that they actually HAVE – it would make my day!!!!!)

  2. Grumpy Bob says:

    Well, I for one find the verse more offensive than the (rather comic-bookish) graphic below it.

  3. Stuart H. says:

    I thought the Islamic objection to graphic images was supposed to be something to do with not being allowed to make images of Mohamed – so are these women admitting Mohammed was a bit of a tit?