US: 'Draw Mohammed' anti-Islam host Pamela Geller will not bow to Islamists threats

Anti-Islam-blogger Pamela Geller who recently hosted the Draw Mohammed cartoon contest and exhibit in Garland, Texas has said she is not scared of the Islamic State (Isis) militant group's threats to "slaughter" her.

Geller, 55, who heads the American Freedom Defense Initiative that the Southern Poverty Law Center has called an "anti-Muslim hate group" told The Washington Post in an email that she will not bow down to intimidation.

"I knew what the stakes were when I started planning the cartoon contest. But it had to be done," said Geller.

"The jihadis had to be shown that at least some Americans will not bow to violent intimidation. I love life. I do not love death like the jihadis. But I will not live as a slave."

War on free speech

Geller has come under heavy criticism for instigating hate crime and putting the lives of police officers on the line.

"My message is simple — protect our police. Do not recklessly lure them into danger and that is what happened in Garland, Texas at the Muhammad cartoon contest," said Greta Van Susteren, a Fox News host who previously worked as a lawyer.

"Yes, of course, there's a First Amendment right and it's very important, but the exercise of that right includes using good judgment.

"It's one thing for someone to stand up for the First Amendment and put his own you-know-what on the line, but here, those insisting they were defending the First Amendment were knowingly putting officers' lives on the line — the police."

Despite the violence triggered by the Draw Mohammed event, when two gunmen opened a fire and a security guard died on Sunday (3 May), Geller insists the violence is all a part of a war on free speech and instead blames the media for "allying" with IS.

"The media has been aligned with the Islamic State... blaming me for the attack instead of its perpetrators and Islam's death penalty for blasphemy," said Geller.

Meanwhile, New York City police are investigating what is being termed as a "direct threat" from IS to "slaughter" the Atlas Shrugs blogger.

In the message, IS warned Geller that they are sending "all our Lions to achieve her slaughter".

Police are conducting a "comprehensive threat assessment to determine what, if any, measures to take", to ensure Geller's protection against the threat.