Jordanian King: Vilifying Prophet a Crime-Extremism political movement, under religious cover.

King Describes Vilifying Prophet as Crime Could not be Justified by Freedom of Expression

Washington, Feb. 3(Petra-Jordan News Agency)-- His Majesty King Abdullah II described vilifying Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) in drawings published in some papers, including Shihan, as a crime could not be justified by the freedom of expression. In a statement issued by the Royal Court, the King said that Shihan paper's act spoils the land and could not be accepted in any way. The King added that he will not tolerate and accept vilifying Islam or any other religion. '' Jordan, which committed to the principles of Islam and respects monotheistic religions and prophets, will not accept, from any side, utilizing the freedom of expression in Jordan to insult Prophet Muhammad, Islam, or any other monotheistic religion.

Amman, Feb. 2(Petra-Jordan News Agency)-- His Majesty King Abdullah II condemned the needless desecration and injury of Islamic sensibilities such as the recent cartoons misrepresenting and vilifying Prophet Muhammad (may peace and blessings be upon him). '' Equally, whilst we respect and revere freedom of speech, we condemn needless desecration and injury of Islamic sensibilities, such as the recent cartoons misrepresenting and vilifying my ancestor the Prophet (may peace and blessings be upon him),'' His Majesty King Abdullah said in a speech delivered on Thursday before 3,000 world and US figures.

The King added that extremists, of any religion, who teach intolerance and violence, mutilate Scripture to advance their cause. '' We behold with horror and disgust the recent targeting of Christian churches in Iraq, breaking with a 1400 year tradition of Christian-Muslim friendship and mutual acceptance amongst the Arabs of the Levant,'' The King said. He added that Islam, like Christianity and Judaism is a monotheistic religion: Muslims believe that there is only One God, that is the basis of everything in Islam.

' Extremism is a political movement, under religious cover. Its adherents want nothing more than to pit us against each other, denying all that we have in common,'' said the King, noting that Jordan launched a religious initiative to reaffirm traditional moderate Islam, to expose and isolate extremism and to emphasize the common teachings of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The principles of our Reaffirmation of True Islam were adopted by the Organization of the Islamic Conference in Mecca last December as part of their ten-year plan for the future of the Islamic World, King said noting that this strikes at the very roots of extremism by denying its Islamic legitimacy, and consolidates the traditional middle ground of Islam, to which the vast majority of Muslims belong.

The King also noted that the terrorist operations are not a clash of civilizations as the extremists say, but they are attacks on civilizations. Their speech's falsity is made clear to all by the extremist bombings in the Islamic world - in Jordan, Egypt, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and more. Almost every day Muslims are killed by extremists in Iraq. Their targets are not Christians, not Jews, not Americans or Europeans, but indigenous innocent Muslims,'' The King added. In addition, His Majesty noted that the violence unleashed by terrorist groups and the few who follow them stems from hatred. They do not preach the Islam of the Quran or the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings upon him. Theirs is a repugnant political ideology which violates the principles and statutes of traditional Islamic law.

Earlier, US President George Bush delivered a speech in the opening session in which he thanked the King and the participants over attending the event. Bush also expressed the respect of US citizens to all religions and beliefs. On the other hand, the participants hailed King's Abdullah's courage and His Majesty's calls for standing against extremists. They also noted to King Abdullah's efforts to clarify the true image of Islam and its principles. Following the speech, the King met with a number of religious leaders, and stressed the importance of unifying efforts to show the correct principles of Islam, which reject violence and hate.

I have no problem if he condems these cartoons if that helps his credibility in his country.

They have every right to be offended. I am offended by the recent cartoon in the Washington Post, and by just about every thing Ted Rall has ever done.

Yet these "offenses", are just an excuse to act like savages and do nothing but reinforce the perception that perhaps Muslims act like savages because they are savages.

They have every right to be offended. I am offended by the recent cartoon in the Washington Post, and by just about every thing Ted Rall has ever done.

Yet these "offenses", are just an excuse to act like savages and do nothing but reinforce the perception that perhaps Muslims act like savages because they are savages.

These "offensive" are hardly "offensive" ... certainly not to the level of the acts of violence that we've seen in response to them. If anything the response to these cartoons has demonstrated the TRUTH of these cartoons; the Muslim Arabs may not realize it, but their offense would appear to be a denial of REALITY. Their every action in response to these cartoons has PROVEN that these cartoons are CORRECT in every particular and, indeed, even quite a bit understated. Until the Muslim public starts behaving like civilized people and not barbarous savages, such cartoons are merited.

I wonder of Syria realizes that, according to the precepts of international law, they are at war with Denmark and Norway? Burning an Embassy -- a building protected as with diplomatic immunity by all international law -- is an act of war.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.