Apology sought from South Alabama student paper

MOBILE, Ala. — Muslim students at the University of South Alabama in Mobile are seeking an apology from the school’s student newspaper, The Vanguard, after it reprinted a cartoon depicting the prophet Mohammed. The newspaper has no intention of apologizing, however, said Jeff Poor, editor in chief of The Vanguard. He said the newspaper printed the cartoon to back freedom of speech.

The cartoons were first printed in a Danish newspaper last year. Protesters worldwide have decried them as a deliberate affront to Islam, and a number of demonstrations in Asia, Africa and the Middle East have turned violent. Many Muslims consider images of Mohammed to be blasphemy.