A number of Muslim states with embassies in Denmark have complained to the government after a newspaper published cartoons of Muslim prophet Mohammed
Daily newspaper Jyllands-Posten's decision to print twelve cartoons featuring Muslim prophet Mohammed has caused a stir among Muslim countries, daily newspaper Politiken reported on Thursday.
A number of Muslim countries with embassies in Denmark have sent a protest to Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the caricatures.
'We are hoping for understanding about Muslims' feelings about Mohammed. And we're hoping for an apology from Jyllands-Posten,' said Mascud Effendy Hutasuhut, minister counsellor at the Indonesian Embassy.
In addition to Indonesia, a number of Arab states, Pakistan, Iran, and Bosnia-Herzegovina have complained about the cartoons, which they see as a hate campaign against Muslims in Denmark.
The newspaper urged cartoonists to send in drawings of the prophet after an author complained that nobody dared to illustrate his book on Mohammed. Twelve illustrators heeded the newspaper's call and sent in cartoons of the prophet, which were published in the newspaper last month.
Jyllands-Posten has called the cartoons a test of whether fear of Islamic retribution has begun to limit the freedom of expression in Denmark.
The caricatures have caused uproar amongst the nation's Muslims, and security guards were posted around the newspaper's Copenhagen office after a mentally unstable 17-year-old boy sent death threats to journalists and the illustrators.
Representatives of the Muslim countries have requested a meeting with the prime minister, who is also the minister of press issues, to discuss the cartoons.
The Prime Minister's Office's press chief, Michael Ulveman, said the ministry was preparing a reply, but would not give any further comments.
Peter Viggo Jakobsen, department chief at the Danish Institute for International Studies, said the Muslim ambassadors should not get their hopes up.
'If they have the faintest idea about how a Danish and democratic society works, they should know that the Danish government doesn't have any say about Jyllands-Posten's rights of expression,' Jakobsen said.
The horror! I was afraid they depicted him screwwing his 9 year old favorite wife.
Link to cartoons in question?
Don't discount the barbarity of the Islamic faith.
Why doesn't it surprise me this is from Denmark?
I might understand them being upset, but there are other actions to take than violence. I know, I know, that's a bit too logical for some to comprehend. ;-)
Yeah right.....salami lay coom to you too ragheads!
Usually I am one who believes that all religions are entitled to respect and dignity (with the arguable exception of universally recognized cults, Satanists and dead religions). In this case, and for the reason stated (to prove that Denmark is not under the thumb of the Jihadis), I admire the courage of those who produced and published the cartoons. That having been said, however, I believe that this experiment in free speech will soon come to an end, to be followed by lots of Danish Government-sanctioned "religion of peace" propaganda.
Maybe the Danes should go Viking on these Muslim invaders.
The muslims are used to oppressive governments that control free speech. When a country that practices free speech tells the muslims that the government cannot do anything about it, it will be interpreted as passive endorsement of the free speech in question. It will simply make the muslims think the Dutch government supports insulting mohammed and islam. The Dutch government will be ranked higher on the muslim "death to the infidels" list.
