France: 'Misunderstanding' over Islamic art sparks near-riot

The accidental projection of a work of art based on Islamic holy texts nearly started a riot in the southwestern French city of Toulouse on Tuesday. The artist, shocked by the response of young Muslim youths in the city, has withdrawn the piece.

A Moroccan artist on Wednesday suspended one of his works from a major arts festival in southern France after his projections of Islamic calligraphy onto a bridge nearly set off a riot when local Muslim youths saw pedestrians walking on the words.

Mounir Fatmi’s exhibit at the month-long "Printemps de Septembre” art festival in Toulouse was meant to be shown at weekends, when cordons would be in place to insure the projections could not be walked on, as this is considered blasphemous by Muslims. (continue reading...)