As I understand it (I,m sure someone here will correct me if it's not so), the followers of Islam are forbidden by their faith from producing any image or statue of the prophet, even as an object of worship.

If true, the mere existence of any images purported to be Mohammed would be deeply offensive to all Muslims, and much more so if they depict him as an object of ridicule.

IMHO, this is a special case and, not an example of over sensitivity, and the authors should be asked to publish an apology to Muslims for inadvertently causing offence.

The cartoons should not be illegal. That should not be necessary, as one would hope that anyone with an ounce of empathy for their fellow Humans would not repeat the process.

Don T.