And do you think the UN is more or less likely to illegalize the criticism of Islam after this incident?
More likely too. Muslims will point to it as evidence of the 'need' for such a restriction on free speech, and the UN, eager to appease, will try to oblige.

It should be clear that no one was scared to speak out on this issue.
The editor of the French paper that printed these was fired, and employees at the Danish paper had, I believe, a bomb threat called in. I think that there are some who have held back because of the nature of the Muslim reaction. The protesters are certainly trying to intimidate people.

I can't think of anything that Westerners would find as offensive as printed pictures of mohammed. We're desensitized to a lot. Maybe showing gay porn during the superbowl? That would offend a lot of people, and how is that not free speech?
That's obscenity, not free speech. It serves no purpose save to display a disgusting spectacle. These cartoons are critiquing a religion, actual political speech.

Crazed Rabbit