Psychological Analysis  of the Caricatures offending the Prophet

The publishing of the caricatures offending the prophet Mohamed (God's praise and peace be upon him) in a number of European journals and magazines, ex c ited a flood of anger and disgust among millions of Muslims. This offensive campaign began in an unknown journal in Denmark, then published again with additional obscene caricatures in journals of Norway, Austria, France and Germany, and the same on a number, not few, of European internet sites.

I concluded in my study to analyze these caricatures that appears the weak technical level and poorness at the first sight, and that they are a product of a group of unprofessionals who projected invalid excitement and deformed ideas many of them can be classified under what is called naked literature or shameful illustration ( Pornography ) , that is classified as well , as psychological disturbance that reaches in certain cases to writing of improper obscene words or drawings on walls in secret expressing of unconsciously the psychological and sexual deviation (Disorders of sexual expression ) . Those people feel delighted and enjoyed when others see these improper and obscene caricatures , comments , or the inciting and exciting cartoons.

Although I am a specialist doctor, but I am interested in personality analysis and studying it and treating its problems, not only by medicine but by all means of psychological diagnosis and treatment through all means verbal and nonverbal especially the cartoons. My thesis for master degree and then Doctorate in psychiatry includes chapters in analysis and methods of using such cartoons and illustrations as helping means of diagnosis and treatment.

When these obscene caricatures issue was stirred up, I decided to conduct this analytical study to reveal the motives and interpretation of denotations what came in these caricatures. What I concluded of result astonished me, in finding denotations of offensive tendency, fanaticism and sexual projections that reach the increased preoccupation of sex, even to the extent of sexual mania ( erotomania ) in certain cartoons . I discovered also the existence of denotations indicate alienation , errors in thinking and believing as exaggeration, generalization, indurations and stagnation … and others.

I believe that this study is a suitable response with western method and language. It is necessary to have just researches and studies according to a developed scientific methodology that reveals the defects and diagnoses the disease and prescribes the treatment and medicine, and introduces the scientific definition by behavioral inimitability that the Prophet (God's praise and peace be upon him) introduced to the humanity, of texts and practical implementations consistent with the most present facts of researches in behavioral psychology and means of modification of thought and behavior which is another study that I had published since certain years ago and was discussed in numerous scientific conferences.

I shall publish results of the psychological analysis of these caricatures successfully, with introduction of other aspects of behavioral inimitability in the life of the honorable Prophet. Who wants more or to have a translation, in English, French and German, can find it on my electronic site www.rameztaha.net

I hope that who reads this article and the mentioned studies participate by republish it as possible, defending the honorable Prophet (If you do not support him, Allah already supported him). It is also preferable to send the article and the translation to a journal or the electronic sites especially in the countries where issued those offensive caricatures and to any of your friends in the west, to correct these calumnies and deformation.

Naturally, I will not repeat publishing the caricatures that had been analyzed as glorification and respect of the personality of the Messenger of clemency, master of the mankind Mohamed (God's praise and peace be upon him).

 

"The Islamocaust"

The Furnace of Muslims' Feelings

This expression , I have never read about it before. I used it in my present study – for the first time – on my responsibility – because I believe that it is the best expression that expresses the burning and ironing Muslims' feelings by these caricatures offensive to the Prophet, with such extent of epidemic diffusion which indicates the shift of the Wast from the stage of the "Islam phobia", which means the fear of "Islam" to the "Islamocaust" which means ironing and burning Muslims' feelings by this campaign of mockery, sarcasm and offense to the highest symbol of Islam, and to the Messenger of Lord of creatures. What increases the severity and ferocity of the pain, that nothing came from Muslims that deforms or mocks of any belief or religion or any of the Messengers.

Even though, we must not fall in the fault of generalization, because we understand that in the West, there are who understand the foolishness and the silliness of what happened and oppose it. But, in all cases, we are responsible to communicate objective information that help to correct the Islam's image, resulted from the lack of correct information about the honorable Prophet and his high mission.

The fanaticism researches in America and Europe assured that the passive mental tendencies, and the hostility and obstinacy against minorities (and the Negroes in America precisely) decrease with the increase of objective information about these minorities and their behaviours, habits, and contribution in building human culture.

Denotations of Hostility and Fanaticism

 

Caricature are one type of modern illustration , plastic and nonobjective art , which depend on exaggeration in expressing thoughts , concepts and feelings , and also the unconscious motives and conflicts . This exaggeration affects the spectator, moves his imagination, gives the idea high effect power and shows the meaning and implant it in the mind.

I found many denotations of hostility and fanaticism on analyzing these offensive caricatures. I shall refer to some of them only as examples in this article for narrow space. For example, many of these caricatures displayed the exaggeration in the head size an assuring the features of the face in an ugly form. This is considered as denotation of the drawer's interest in external appearances and reflexion of a supposed aggression, accompanied at the same time unconscious confession of the drawn person's power and prestige.

In other drawings appeared the absolute absence of the mouth, in spite of the existence of the rest of the face features. This is considered of unconscious denotations, of the drawer tendency not to listen to the other, perhaps escaping or fearing of convincingness, and continuing in denying the truth that the Prophet introduced. It also refers to the passive aggression by neglecting. It may be also denotation of self-distention, and refusing connection with the other.

In more than a drawing, the drawer showed the mouth in oval or curved lines with teeth showing and assuring that is considered denotation of sadistic tendencies et aggressive inclination of the drawer also. In other drawings, the mouth was drawn with thick and rough lips that is considered projection of oral sexual experiences of the drawer and this is assured by finding the rest features in these drawings which do not match with these thick lips.

Those drawers themselves drew and projected on the drawings their deep unconscious conflicts and sick hidden selves . Would they had read about the beauty of his honorable face and the purity of his virtuous behavior.

 

Behavioral Inimitability of the Prophet

The honorable Prophet, to whom they did wrong, is that who could alter and change the passive and destructive behaviours and habits of his whole society during a limited and standard number of years. These changes continued stable, existing and implanted deeply in the mind and conscience of people. Therefore, it had been really the greatest operation of behaviour and habits modification all over the humanity history, that all revolutions and overthrows failed to do it, even also all scientific, contemporary, and advanced methods of treatment in the field of human behaviour.

What confounded me much is : why we had not profited of this approach, and study and compare it with facts of behavioral and psychological sciences, and the modern anthropological, educational and sociological researches ?! .

The Prophet (God's praise and peace be upon him) could shift the fighting tribes and the demagogical groups who raided each others and deemed permissible killing others and violation of sacredness, and produced themselves with their aggression and usurpation of sights … to cooperated groups, meeting around high objectives, with relations governed by cultured systems and rules, with affection feelings, sympathy and kindness! And could alter behaviours and habits of the society individuals!. He implanted the affection, the sympathy, the mildness and the clemency!. He could also deal with problems that are still socking numerous developed societies, as the addition of the alcoholic drink, gambling, and sexual deviation and collectively others.

 

The Prophet as the Pioneer of Alteration

of the Human Behaviour

The Prophet (God's praise and peace be upon him) used various ways that we can take as example and profit of them in this world in dealing with others in rectification and alteration their behavior and helping them to get rid of passive destructive habits. I found that all ways and methods followed by the honorable Messenger – (God's praise and peace be upon him) – are consistent with the most recent scientific studies and researches in this vital important field.

One of these ways is the approach of exposing the applied behavioral models – in overt modeling, which represent the best learning approaches and the most effective. In addition, introducing practical data to modify the behavior and treat the problems, with the proper way of dealing in every situation of different ones. Also, using illustration, symbolization, activation of imagination, possibility of anticipation and conception, using stories, proverbs, symbolization of sceneries, and introducing verbal and practical statements to explain the educational situations that facilitate the learning processes, and help man in changing gradually his dispositions. This allowed Muslims to learn by observation and imitation and other effective approaches of behavioral alteration , that are cited in many studies of contemporary scientists and in researches of partisans of social observational learning theory, cognitive behavioral psychology and biology of the nervous system of the human being.

This is a simple aspect and quick hints of the life of the honorable Prophet, not understood by everyone committed that shameful action. We will continue publishing about these studies successively. This is a part of the response that we consider our religious obligation, consistent with God's saying (If you do not support him, Allah already supported him).

Dr. Ramez Taha ( M D )

Consultant Psychiatrist