By ALYSSA KLEVEN
MyNorthwest.com

Friends of a Seattle cartoonist who has gone into hiding over "Draw Mohammed Day" are worried for her safety.

Seattle Weekly editor-in-chief Mark D. Fefer announced in Wednesday's issue that Molly Norris' comic would no longer appear in the paper.

At Norris' and law enforcement's request, her friends were had been encouraged not to draw attention to Norris' move and name change. However, the executive director of the Washington State chapter of American Islamic Relations and a friend to Norris, Arsalan Bukhari, spoke to KIRO Radio's Ron and Don about the Muslim communities' reaction to the threats.

Norris reached out to the Islamic community shortly after drawing the cartoon that sparked so much controversy. She met Bukhari at an Islamic rally.

According to Bukhari, "she's also a very good, close friend to the Muslim community here."

Bukhari said that when the outcry arose about her cartoon, which was heavily publicized on a facebook page for "Draw Mohammed Day" without her permission, "she was shocked, taken aback, and caught off guard."

The man responsible for the death threats, according to Bukhari, is only one man with a blog. The blogger, originally from the United States who now lives in Yemen, is wanted by the FBI for issuing death threats.

Bukhari said that the one man is not a threat, but the fear is that his message will be heard by someone who will take his words and put them into action.

"We are very concerned for her," said Bukhari. "I think we stand for freedom of speech, but we also want people to be free of death threats no matter what they say or do."

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