Kurt Westergaard (born Kurt Vestergaard, 13 July 1935 – 14 July 2021) was a Danish cartoonist, illustrator, and advocate for freedom of expression. Best known for his 2005 cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad with a bomb in his turban — one of the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons — Westergaard became a global symbol of both artistic freedom and the volatile clash between satire and religious sensitivity.
Following the publication of the cartoon, Westergaard faced numerous death threats and assassination attempts, forcing him to live under round-the-clock police protection for more than a decade. Despite the immense personal cost, he remained an unwavering defender of the right to free expression, even in the face of global outrage.
Kurt Westergaard — Infobox
| Full Name | Kurt Vestergaard (known professionally as Kurt Westergaard) |
|---|---|
| Born | 13 July 1935 — Døstrup, Jutland, Denmark |
| Died | 14 July 2021 (aged 86) — Copenhagen, Denmark |
| Nationality | Danish |
| Occupation | Cartoonist, Illustrator, Schoolteacher |
| Years Active | 1980s – 2021 |
| Education | – Ranum Seminarium (Teacher Training College) – University of Copenhagen (Psychology) |
| Known For | The 2005 Jyllands-Posten Muhammad Cartoon — depicting the Prophet Muhammad with a bomb in his turban |
| Major Publications | Jyllands-Posten (Denmark) |
| Artistic Style | Political and religious satire, symbolic illustration |
| Themes | Freedom of expression, democracy, secularism, extremism, and cultural critique |
| Major Works / Events | • Jyllands-Posten Muhammad Cartoons (2005) • Manden bag stregen (The Man Behind the Line, 2011 memoir) |
| Assassination Attempts | • 2008 – Foiled plot by three Islamist suspects • 2010 – Axe attack by Somali assailant linked to al-Shabaab |
| Awards and Honors | • 2008 – Sappho Award, Danish Free Press Society • 2010 – M100 Media Award (presented by German Chancellor Angela Merkel) |
| Philosophy / Beliefs | Advocate of democracy, secularism, and absolute freedom of speech |
| Quote | “I draw because I am free — and I refuse to live in fear.” |
| Spouse | Inge Westergaard |
| Children | 1 daughter, 1 grandson |
| Residence | Aarhus and Copenhagen, Denmark |
| Languages | Danish (native), English |
| Memoir | Manden bag stregen (The Man Behind the Line, 2011, with John Lykkegaard) |
Early Life and Education
Kurt Westergaard was born on 13 July 1935 in the small village of Døstrup, in the Mariagerfjord area of Jutland, Denmark. He grew up in a strict Christian household, part of Denmark’s Inner Mission movement, where he attended Sunday school regularly.
As a teenager, he experienced a transformative intellectual awakening. During high school in the 1950s, he encountered cultural radicalism, which he later described as “a liberation from the religious subjugation of my childhood.”
Westergaard trained as a schoolteacher at Ranum Seminarium and later studied psychology at the University of Copenhagen. His early professional life was dedicated to education for children with disabilities, including work as a teacher and school principal in Djursland.
His exposure to diverse students and families shaped his humanistic worldview, which would later influence his commitment to reason, freedom, and tolerance.
Entry into Cartooning
Westergaard’s career as a cartoonist began in the early 1980s, when he started contributing political and social cartoons to Danish newspapers. His first notable position was with the newspaper Demokraten, before joining Jyllands-Posten, Denmark’s leading daily, where he would work for over two decades.
His artistic style — clean, simple lines and sharp symbolism — became instantly recognizable. He specialized in political satire, tackling hypocrisy, extremism, and the intersection of religion and politics.
The 2005 Muhammad Cartoon and Global Controversy
In September 2005, Jyllands-Posten published a series of 12 editorial cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad, as part of a debate about self-censorship and free speech in European media.
Westergaard’s contribution — showing Muhammad with a bomb in his turban, the fuse lit — became the most infamous of the series. The image was intended, he explained, to symbolize how religious extremists misuse Islam to justify violence, not to attack the religion itself.
However, the publication triggered global outrage, including violent protests, diplomatic crises, and attacks on Western embassies. Dozens of people were killed in ensuing riots in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia.
Westergaard became the primary target of jihadist death threats, forcing Danish authorities to assign him permanent police protection.
“My intention was not to insult Muslims, but to point out that terrorism has its roots in the abuse of religion,” he said in a 2009 interview.
Assassination Plots and Life Under Protection
Following the cartoon’s publication, Westergaard faced multiple assassination attempts:
1. 2008 Murder Plot Foiled
In February 2008, Danish intelligence (PET) arrested three men — two Tunisians and one Danish citizen of Moroccan descent — for plotting to murder Westergaard. The suspects were linked to extremist groups.
After this, Danish security services reinforced his home, equipping it with steel doors, bulletproof windows, surveillance cameras, and a panic room. He was placed under 24-hour protection, even during travel.
2. 2010 Axe Attack
On 1 January 2010, a 28-year-old Somali intruder armed with an axe and knife broke into Westergaard’s home, shouting for revenge.
Westergaard managed to escape into his panic room with his five-year-old granddaughter. The attacker attempted to break down the door before being shot and arrested by police.
The man was later identified as being connected to al-Shabaab, an East African branch of al-Qaeda. He was sentenced in 2011 to 10 years in prison and permanent deportation from Denmark.
Despite these harrowing experiences, Westergaard refused to flee his country or renounce his principles.
“I will not hide,” he said. “I live in Denmark, not in a police state. I draw because I am free.”
International Impact and Free Speech Debate
Westergaard’s cartoon ignited one of the most significant global debates on freedom of expression in modern history.
Supporters praised him for his courage in defending secular democracy and artistic freedom. Critics accused him and Jyllands-Posten of provoking religious hatred.
The controversy exposed deep divisions between Western secular values and religious sensitivities, raising enduring questions about the limits of satire and the right to offend.
Westergaard later criticized both extremist reactions abroad and the timid response of Western governments, which he felt betrayed the principle of free speech.
“We gave immigrants homes, schools, and freedom,” he said. “In return, we asked for respect for democracy and free expression. That’s not too much to ask.”
Later Life, Memoirs, and Legacy
In 2011, Westergaard published his memoir, Manden bag stregen (The Man Behind the Line), co-written with John Lykkegaard. The book chronicled his life, the cartoon controversy, and his reflections on freedom, art, and fear.
Despite living under protection, he continued to draw, speak publicly, and advocate for democratic values until his health declined.
Westergaard died peacefully in his sleep in Copenhagen on 14 July 2021, a day after his 86th birthday, following a long illness.
Awards and Recognition
- 2008 – Sappho Award, Danish Free Press Society (for courage and dedication to journalism)
- 2010 – M100 Media Award, presented by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, recognizing his commitment to freedom of opinion and press liberty
- Featured lecturer at international press freedom conferences, including the Kurt Westergaard Press Freedom Lecture in Amsterdam (2015)
Legacy
Kurt Westergaard’s life became a testament to the power — and peril — of free expression in the 21st century.
He never intended to become a political icon, yet his cartoon became a turning point in global discussions about satire, religion, and tolerance.
To some, he remains a hero of free speech; to others, a symbol of the dangers of cultural provocation. What is undeniable is that Westergaard’s art and courage forever changed the way the world views freedom, art, and faith.
“You can threaten me, but you cannot silence an idea,” Westergaard once said.
