Why did Jyllands-Posten publish the cartoons? The Copenhagen Post explains: Jyllands-Posten called for and printed the cartoons by various Danish illustrators, after reports that artists were refusing to illustrate works about Islam, out of fear of fundamendalist retribution. The newspaper said it printed the cartoons as a test of whether Muslim fundamentalists had begun affecting the freedom of expression in Denmark.
Click here for the Dutch cartoons & reaction to them