Lars Vilks, who drew Prophet Muhammad in 2007, dies in car crash
Since the publication of the cartoons, Vilks had been living under round-the-clock police guard following threats against his life
04 October 2021 - 17:34
byHelena Soderpalm
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Forensic technicians work at the scene following a crash in which three people died, including Swedish artist Lars Vilks, outside Markaryd, Sweden, October 4 2021. Picture: TT NEWS AGENCY/JOHAN NILSSON/REUTERS
Stockholm — Swedish artist Lars Vilks, who stirred worldwide controversy in 2007 with drawings depicting the Prophet Mohammad, was killed in a car crash near the southern town of Markaryd on Sunday, police said.
Vilks, 75, who had been living under police protection since the drawings were published, was travelling in a police vehicle which collided with a truck. Two police officers were also killed.
“This is a very tragic incident. It is now important to all of us that we do everything we can to investigate what happened and what caused the collision,” Swedish police said in a statement on Monday.
“Initially, there is nothing that points to anyone else being involved.”
Most Muslims consider any depiction of the founder of Islam as offensive.
Since the publication of the cartoons, Vilks had been living under round-the-clock police guard following threats against his life. He had a bounty put on his head and his house was firebombed.
In 2015, one person was killed in Copenhagen, Denmark, at a meeting meant to mark the 25th anniversary of an Iranian fatwa against British writer Salman Rushdie, which Vilks attended.
Vilks was widely seen as the intended target.
Vilks had said that the cartoons were not intended to provoke Muslims, but to challenge political correctness in the art world.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Lars Vilks, who drew Prophet Muhammad in 2007, dies in car crash
Since the publication of the cartoons, Vilks had been living under round-the-clock police guard following threats against his life
Stockholm — Swedish artist Lars Vilks, who stirred worldwide controversy in 2007 with drawings depicting the Prophet Mohammad, was killed in a car crash near the southern town of Markaryd on Sunday, police said.
Vilks, 75, who had been living under police protection since the drawings were published, was travelling in a police vehicle which collided with a truck. Two police officers were also killed.
“This is a very tragic incident. It is now important to all of us that we do everything we can to investigate what happened and what caused the collision,” Swedish police said in a statement on Monday.
“Initially, there is nothing that points to anyone else being involved.”
Most Muslims consider any depiction of the founder of Islam as offensive.
Since the publication of the cartoons, Vilks had been living under round-the-clock police guard following threats against his life. He had a bounty put on his head and his house was firebombed.
In 2015, one person was killed in Copenhagen, Denmark, at a meeting meant to mark the 25th anniversary of an Iranian fatwa against British writer Salman Rushdie, which Vilks attended.
Vilks was widely seen as the intended target.
Vilks had said that the cartoons were not intended to provoke Muslims, but to challenge political correctness in the art world.
Reuters
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