I’m hearing from many readers in Sweden who are very upset about this:

A far-right Swedish party’s website showing cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad has been shut down by the Internet hosting company after pressure from police and the foreign ministry, fearing it would fuel Muslim anger.

The anti-immigrant Swedish Democrats had invited readers to send in cartoons for publishing on its website alongside the Danish cartoons, which have sparked violent demonstrations by Muslims around the world.

After Foreign Minister Laila Freivalds warned of “grave consequences for Swedish people and Swedish interests” and said Muslim countries were already reacting, the web hosting company Levonline pulled the plug, a company director said on Friday.

“We have been in contact with the foreign ministry and SAPO (security police) and in consultation with them we decided this was best,” its deputy director Anna Larsson told Swedish Radio.

What kind of artwork would lead to such a shutdown? The article leaves the impression that the cartoons must be virulently racist and outrageously provocative–you know, along the lines of the bogus, anti-Muslim artwork disseminated by the Danish imams. But Swedish readers have sent the original cartoon from the Swedish Democrats’ contest being singled out. Judge it for yourself (click for large image):

The caption says “Danish Mohammad self-censorship” in Swedish.

That’s it.

As I noted last night, via Instapundit, a Swedish blogger backlash against the crackdown has begun. Michael Moynihan in Stockholm is disgusted and notes:

Freedom House’s 2005 survey ranks Sweden 9th in press freedom…The Spectator calls on every Swedish blog—left, right and center—to reprint the Mohammad cartoons in solidarity with SD-Kuriren, however odious we find their political views. Freedom of the press doesn’t make exceptions for stupidity and provincialism.

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The self-censoring CNN’s coverage of the story is here.

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