Perhaps it should be noted that Mohammed has already appeared in a South Park episode as a member of the Super Best Friends. Wikipedia also says that Mohammed can also be seen in the background of the current opening credits.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Park#Censorship

Did you see the episode? They skewered Comedy Central's handling of the Muhammed episode with the whole "Family Guy" bit about Kyle trying to talk a Fox exec into showing the uncensored version. And the censored Muhamed was so funny that I laughed out loud.

And then Comedy Central allows Jesus to pooh on Bush!? Whoops! In light of the network's Muhammed 'sensitivity', I'd say that Trey and Parker certainly perfectly satirized the ridiculousness and hypocrisy of the entire situation. It was almost performance art. Now everybody take a deep breath --- Trey and Parker will be watching you! Whoops again William Donohue of the anti-defamation group Catholic League! I think we'll be seeing him and the League in a South park real soon!

The Super Best Friends episode was made several years ago, but I did not realize that Mohammed is still in the opening credits. I wonder whether Comedy Central is aware of that, or whether it would continue to allow it if it found out.

Karl, Wikipedia (take with proper grain of salt) says that he was only recently added to the large crowd.

I was just thinking that it's interesting how there is such pressure over works of fiction and satire (no matter how poorly or well prepared) whenever the portrayal involves Islam or Muslims. I mean, nobody has called for the assassination of Dan Brown as occurred when Salman Rushdie published the Satanic Verses.