'Counter-fatwa'?

Two Muslim organizations in Europe have issued a "counter-fatwa", saying it would be against Islam to kill Lars Vilks, the Swedish artist who drew a picture depicting Mohammed as a dog.

Two leading European Muslim organizations have condemned the threats issued by al-Qaeda in Iraq on the lives of Swedish artist Lars Vilks and newspaper editor Ulf Johansson.

The Dublin-based European Council for Fatwa and Research labelled the death sentence haram, or prohibited by the Islamic faith, and said it planned to issue a counter-fatwa.

Meanwhile, Swedish authorities appear to have doubts as to the efficacy of the counter-fatwa. Police there have forced Mr. Vilks to go into hiding.

Police have told Swedish artist Lars Vilks that it is not safe for him to remain at his home in southern Sweden following threats on his life from an al-Qaeda front organization in Iraq.

The artist behind a controversial caricature of the Muslim prophet Muhammad was only allowed access to his home outside Nyhamnsläge after police had conducted a thorough search on Monday morning.

Police allowed the artist to pick up a few belongings but told him that they did not want him staying there in the foreseeable future.