Anti-Danish protest spreads throughout Muslim world in response to disrespectful cartoons of prophet Muhammad
Posted: 30-01-2006 , 15:56 GMT
Across the Middle East, Muslim nations have called on a widespread boycott against Denmark following the publication of drawings published in the Jyllands-Posten in September which included one of the prophet Mohammad wearing a turban of bombs.
The drawings, part of a contest amongst artists to portray the Prophet, was an apparent test of freedom of speech in the multicultural society of Denmark, according to the Canada Free Press. Some of the drawings portrayed the Prophet in a negative light.
Libya announced on Sunday that it would close its embassy in Denmark in protest of the drawings.
A statement by Libyan officials said that "the silence of the Danish authorities" was behind their decision, according to the AP. It added that retaliatory economic measures” would be taken as well against Denmark as a result.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia last week recalled its ambassador to Denmark in response to the affair, while a growing boycott of all Danish products is underway.
Even the United Nations has become involved in the affair, with asking the Danish Prime Minister offer “an official explanation,” according to The Brussels’ Journal.
The controversy has spread throughout the Arab world. On Monday masked gunmen on overtook an office used by the European Union in the West Bank city of Nablus.
A representative of the Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades stated that "the Danish campaign against the prophet Muhammad constitutes part of the crusade the western world conducts against Islam," according to Ynet.
"This is a demonstration for Islam and against the enemies of Islam. We are not interested in seeing Danish nationals here, and we are currently debating how to act against them within our borders," the representative added during an anti-Danish demonstration on Sunday.
Others in the Palestinian public have called for severing all ties with Denmark.
Danish citizens in the region were urged to leave the West Bank and the Gaza Strip immediately. Citizens of Denmark with future plans to visit the area were also warned not to do so.
Almost all Danish nationals in the Palestinian territories work for Palestinian humanitarian and human rights groups to forward the Palestinian cause.
In response to the backlash, the International Islamic Council called on Muslims to ensure that their protests are peaceful. "We ask all members of the Islamic nations to express their views in a calm and civilized manner, and to avoid getting carried away and make mistakes unbecoming of Muhammad's way," the Council said.
Per Stig Moeller, Denmark’s Foreign Minister, met with European Union foreign ministers on Monday to discuss how the Danish government should handle the matter.
I will think that you cant compare these things, but maybe you can compare it with the feelings of an american there see that his flag is burning.... In Denmark we do not take the same offend of flagburning and so on, but we are in deed sad to see, how he islamic world not do respect our ways... In the hope of peace, to all fellow humans.....
wtf? you're friggin comparing sharon to the prophet? regardless of what i think of sharon , he's not a religious icon respected by millions of people and you don't have to be a muslim to see that
I think Linda Jones is right
how on earth dare u compare sharon to a prophet.. I myself regardless of my faith be offended to see any prophert or jesus humilated !
Hey Linda, if you took the time to see what Bob Kay was referring to, you'd see that along with Sharon, the very symbol of JUDAISM itself, the Star of David, is QUITE OFTEN depicted in the most offensive manner in many arab media outlets.
we dont see the world up in arms about that now, do we????
I lived in the Middle East for 8 years and found that Muslims respect all the prophets. Muhammed is a prophet respected by 1.5 billion people, and can't be compared to any political figure or symbol. What this newspaper has done (and I have seen the cartoons) is totally unacceptable
Fist a few links to middleage middleeast art, picturing the prophet..http://www.zombietime.com/mohammed_image_archive/ http://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Muhammad&oldid=1283680
It seems like you, like the rest of the world dont understand anything about these danish cartoons. The background for them was, that a danish author, could'. get any illustrators to his book about the prophet Mohammad. The nwespaper Jyllands-Posten dared danish illustrators to make any drawing refering to the prophet and they promised to publish any drawing made.
I belive that the drawings more than anything shows the picture of islam, seen by many europeans. A religion that incourage violence am´nd murder. That might not be fair, but anyway... Thats the real problem......and not the drawings.
We respect every religion in the world. But we will continue drawing our cartoons about the prophet Muhammed, because we ARE FREE people. No Muslim will touch our freedom. Yesterday it was Danish newspaper, today French, tomorrow Czech, Polish and so on! Europe is and WILL be a place of freedom! Your hate is your illness!!!!
Liberal provocative 'heroism' went too far. It's heartening to see that at least on this issue the Muslim world can unite. It's important to continue resisting the defamation of our great faith and it's final Prophet.
I rather think its frightening that the only answer to anything, from muslims world wide, is violense, and killing... I wonder how european muslim can howl with thier fellow muslims i the middle east. You have in many ways understood to profit from our freedom. Muslims like you should use your mussles to make the west, and the east to meet in understanding!
Even though I am not Islamic, I find that anyone who ridicules anyone's religion, prophets, etc. is WRONG!!! It is offensive, inflammatory and despicable!!!!
Muslims have bomed our homeland killed people who have done them no harm. This seems to be the basis of their religion. Sad very sad. They act like they are the only people on the earth. If Islam wants war with the west then let them have it.
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