JEDDAH, 29 January 2006 — The government of Norway expressed regret to Muslims around the world, condemning the publication of illustrations of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in a Norwegian magazine.
The illustrations, which first appeared in Denmark’s Jyllands-Posten daily in September, have incited a public call to boycott Danish products.
Meanwhile, Norway seems to have dodged scrutiny for the same offense in one of its publications. Muslims consider images of prophets disrespectful and caricatures of them blasphemous.
Nevertheless, the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Riyadh issued an apologetic statement on Wednesday to the Saudi Foreign Ministry, the chairman of the Shoura Council, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the Muslim World League, and the Riyadh-based Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Ambassador Jan Bugge-Mahrt condemned the drawings published in Norway’s Magazinet.
“All people have the right to respect for their religion and the right to expect that neither their religion nor their religious affiliation will be subject to contempt. I understand that the caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad in the Norwegian magazine Magazinet are perceived as offensive and that they have caused a stir in Muslim communities,” he said in a statement. “This incident is unfortunate and deplorable.”
The ambassador also expressed views enshrined in European constitutions regarding freedom of expression.
“Freedom of expression is a constitutional right and one of the mainstays of Norwegian society,” said the ambassador. “This also entails tolerance for views that are not shared by everyone.”
The Brussels Journal reported yesterday that the foreign minister of Norway, Jonas Gahr Støre, issued the following message through the country’s embassies: “I am sorry that the publication of a few cartoons in the Norwegian paper Magazinet has caused unrest among Muslims. I fully understand that these drawings are seen to give offense by Muslims worldwide. Islam is a spiritual reference point for a large part of the world. Your faith has the right to be respected by us.”
