Dhimmitude in France

While the press seems to be making some sort of a bold statement in some parts of Europe as the Germans print Muhammad caricatures; in France, it is business as usual. The managing editor of France Soir, who published the Danish Mohammed cartoons as a nod of support for free speech, was fired, and the owner of the paper has gotten on his knees to beg that please, don't put a jihad on his head:

France Soir originally said it had published the images in full to show “religious dogma” had no place in a secular society.
But late on Wednesday its owner, Raymond Lakah, said he had removed managing editor Jacques Lefranc “as a powerful sign of respect for the intimate beliefs and convictions of every individual”.
Mr Lakah said: “We express our regrets to the Muslim community and all people who were shocked by the publication.”
The president of the French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM), Dalil Boubakeur, had described France Soir’s publication as an act of “real provocation towards the millions of Muslims living in France”.

An act of provocation, Dalil? Is that a threat that unless the French press comes to heel, you will unleash another car-burning party on Paris? Well, Mr. Boubakeur knows with whom he's dealing, and knows he is in the position of strength in Dhimmi France...

And before we show too much respect for Europe, the bloggers at No Parasan! wisely ask:

A caveat, however. The Europeans jumped to the rescue of a fellow European, and of a lightweight, at that, an underdog.
Would they have been willing to do the same for an American newspaper? Or for a British one, for that matter?

Me, I'm still unconvinced about the backbone of Europe...but not the dhimmitude of France.

France Soir quotes via Little Green Footballs here: http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=19044_French_Editor_Fired_for_Mohammed_Cartoons&only
No Parasan! here: http://no-pasaran.blogspot.com/2006/02/support-for-underdog.html
Good roundup at Daimnation! here: http://www.damianpenny.com/archived/005660.html