Comic creator Bosch Fawstin is in the center of controversy after his portrait of Mohammad won the contest hosted by the American Freedom Defense Initiative (AFDI). That contest spurred two terrorists to attempt an attack on the event hosted by AFDI. Both gunmen were killed by police.

Fawstin Tweeted the below concerning the attack.

He has since used the event to promote his anti-Islamic series The Infidel, causing the series to vault to the top of digital sales on comiXology. I reviewed the comic a while ago and you can read the review here.

Fawstin, a New York born, former Muslim, won $12,500 in prize money for his art.

The Southern Poverty Law Center, an organization which tracks hate groups, includes the AFDI in its annual list of U.S. hate groups. They plan on adding Fawstin to the list according to Heidi Beirich, director of the tracking effort. In full disclosure, I’m very much a supporter of the SPLC, and find Fawstin’s and the AFDI’s beliefs disgusting. Beirich said to Reuters that Fawstin would have been listed before, but was not due to the fact they were unable to figure out his location.

Beirich said to Reuters:

He’s like the artist of the movement. His views, they are hate views.

Fawstin said he fears for his safety, but will continue his work. To Reuters, he said:

It definitely is concerning. You do your work and people out there want to kill you for it. I understand the threat, but I’m not going to be cowed by it. I still intend to go up there and I still intend to speak out.

And on being added by the SPLC:

So they want to put a cartoonist on there who doesn’t act out violently? Go for it.

It should be made clear, Fawstin is against all Islam:

You can see his drawing below.

This is a story we’ll be following as it progresses.

 

(via Reuters, The Outhousers)