Stockholm, May 13: In an exemplary instance of defiance against falling prey to extremist elements, Lars Vilks, the Swedish artist who shot up to popularity in 2007 after his controversial cartoon of Prophet Muhammad angered Muslims, has said that he wished to go back to Uppsala University to deliver his lecture on free-speech as his previous lecture was disrupted by violent protests.

Vilks was on Tuesday, May 11 attacked by a bunch of people while he was delivering a speech
on freedom of expression at the University. Fortunately, police jumped in with pepper spray and batons to rescue Vilks, who escaped with just broken glasses.

As per reports, the violence broke out when Vilks showed a film by an Iranian artist about Islam and homosexuality.

While the university doesn't seem keen on inviting the cartoonist again for the lecture, the artist has expressed anguish over the fact that the incident showed the worrying trend of certain individuals and groups trying to restrict the freedom of expression.

"What you get is a mob deciding what can be discussed at the university," Vilks said.

"I'm ready to go up again. This must be carried through. You cannot allow it to be stopped," he added.

OneIndia News