LOS ANGELES – Satirical animated TV show South Parkbeeped out the words "Prophet Muhammad" and plastered its episode on Wednesday with the word "CENSORED" after being issued a grim warning by a US Muslim group.
The irreverent show on Comedy Central also substituted a controversial image seen last week of the Prophet Muhammad in a bear outfit with one of Santa Claus in the same costume.
It was not immediately clear if the move was a bid to tread carefully following the warning against the South Parkcreators, or if they were poking fun at the fuss.
The little-known group RevolutionMuslim.com posted a message on its website earlier this week warning creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker “that what they are doing is stupid and they will probably wind up like Theo van Gogh for airing this show”.
The website posted a graphic photo of Van Gogh, a Dutch filmmaker who was killed in 2004 by an Islamic militant over a movie he had made that accused Islam of condoning violence against women. It also posted a link to a news article with details of a mansion in Colorado that Parker and Stone apparently own.
Most Muslims consider any depiction of the founder of Islam as offensive.
The website warning followed the first in a two-part episode of South Parka week ago in which the Prophet Muhammad was depicted in a bear outfit.
South Parkhas a history of biting satire against politicians, celebrities and the media. The two Colorado filmmakers are known often to work on episodes until just before they air, enabling them to react to current events.
In Wednesday’s new episode, Jesus Christ was depicted watching pornography and Buddha was portrayed snorting cocaine.
The head of Revolution Muslim, Younus Abdullah Muhammad (30), defended the web posting.
“How is that a threat? Showing a case study right there of what happened to another individual who conducted himself in a very similar manner? It’s just evidence.”
US law enforcement officials said the federal government rarely prosecuted threat cases.
The first amendment of the US constitution gives broad protections to free speech and what constitutes a threat is often subject to interpretation.
Mr Muhammad described his group as an alternative media outlet. He said it “didn’t tell anyone to go to their houses and conduct violence” against Parker or Stone.
Comedy Central has declined to comment. – (Reuters)