Cartoons rake up the old debate

With the threat of Islamic terrorism in Europe and the West are grappling with questions like how to set the limits of freedom, and what cultural values immigrants must adopt as the price of admission.

‘‘It is very difficult for a liberal democracy to deal with those that want to completely undermine the fabric on which liberal democracy is built,’’ said Richard Whitman, a senior European analyst at Chatham House, a London think-tank.

Some see darker forces behind the recent popular protests. The US military in Afghanistan said it is is examining whether extremist groups may be inciting the cartoon protests.

Many in the Islam world see a double standard when it comes to free speech—outlawing Holocaust deniers and cracking down on other acts of anti-Semitism.

While Iranian Vice President on Thursday denied claims by the US government that Tehran was inflaming Muslim anger over cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad that have been published in newspapers around the world.

‘‘That is 100 per cent a lie,’’ said Isfendiyar Rahim Mashaee, one of several Iranian Vice Presidents. ‘‘It is without attribution.’’