[1] Events worldwide on the first annual Blasphemy Day in 2009 included an art exhibit in Washington, D.C., and a free speech festival in Los Angeles.
Although the caricatures of Muhammad caused some controversy within Denmark, especially among Muslims, it became a widespread furor after Muslim imams in several countries stirred up violent protests in which Danish embassies were firebombed and over 100 people killed (counting the deaths from police opening fire on protesters).
A student contacted the Center for Inquiry in Amherst, New York, to present the idea, which CFI then supported.
"[2] Blasphemy is punishable by death in several countries, including Afghanistan,[5] Pakistan,[6] Iran, and Saudi Arabia.
[7] Nine member states of the European Union have laws against blasphemy or religious insult: Austria, Cyprus, Finland, Germany, Greece, Italy, Poland, Portugal, and Spain.