When is a picture of Jesus a hate crime?

[Wingnut]

If a Moslum is involved you are a winner!

“A worker there had found this large painting of Christ on a cross on the property,” reported an anchor for NBC 4. “The anti-Muslim message was found hanging from a fence, deemed to be so obviously because it was a mosque.”

“Nassau County police said they are investigating the incident as a possible hate crime.”

The “anti-Muslim message,” as the NBC 4 anchor labeled it, was a green and white painting of Jesus’ silhouette hanging on the cross.

“Members of this North New Hyde mosque feel someone tried to attack their religion Friday,” said a reporter for News 12 Long Island. “The reaction was kind of surprised, that in this community, we’ve been here since 2002, this is the first time it has happened,” said a member of the Hillsdale Mosque.

http://longisland.news12.com/story/35841458/police-probe-hate-crime-at-north-new-hyde-park-islamic-center

http://www.cnsnews.com/blog/gage-cohen/police-investigate-jesus-painting-left-mosque-hate-crime

[kidd]

Hogwash.

Muslims believe Jesus was a prophet. They just don't regard Jesus as the Son
To Christians, Jesus on the cross represents forgiveness for our sins. To Muslims Jesus on the cross is simply historical fact and nothing more.

Sorry, but this is not a hate crime, even to a Muslim. Someone is trying to stoke anti-Christian feelings by placing the painting near the Mosque.
It is about as "offensive" as placing a painting of Buddha near a church.

Remove the painting and move on.

[The_Reader_David]

Hogwash.

Muslims believe Jesus was a prophet.

It's only hogwash in as much as the Islamic doctrines that make them take offense are hogwash:  they deny not only the Divinity of Jesus Christ, but His crucifixion.  They regard it as incomprehensible that a prophet would be crucified and adopted some nonsensical gnostic docetist version of the crucifixion.  They also, strict Sunnis at least, are strict iconoclasts and regard depiction of prophets as haram, and thus, not merely forbidden to Muslims, but forbidden to anyone, since they regard their sharia as being of universal applicability.