JEDDAH, 29 January 2006 — The Organization of the Islamic Conference yesterday lambasted Danish authorities over their lack of action or apology for cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) which appeared in a Danish newspaper.
At a news conference in Jeddah, OIC Secretary-General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu characterized the cartoons as “blasphemous and sacrilegious.”
He, however, cautioned Muslims to act, despite their outrage, in a manner that reflected the values of Islam.
“The Danish authorities have, by providing protection to the newspaper and failure to censure it in unequivocal terms, served neither the cause of freedom of expression nor advanced the goals of multiculturalism, domestically or internationally,” he said. “The Danish authorities should have categorically condemned the cartoons.”
The OIC represents 57 countries, and Ihsanoglu said the Muslim world expected an apology. “It is the legitimate expectation of 1.3 billion Muslims that perpetrators of blasphemy who have transgressed the civilized boundaries of freedom redress the situation by extending an unqualified apology,” he said.
The 12 cartoons, published by the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten on Sept. 30, 2005, included one showing Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) wearing a turban in the shape of a bomb with a burning fuse. Another portrayed him with a bushy, gray beard, wielding a sword, his eyes covered by a black rectangle. A third pictured a middle-aged Prophet (pbuh) in the desert with a walking stick, in front of a donkey and a sunset. Islam bars any depiction of the Prophet (pbuh), even respectful ones, out of concern that such images could lead to idolatry.
Ihsanoglu said the failure of the Danish authorities to categorically condemn the cartoons set a dangerous precedent, as shown by the fact that the cartoons have been rerun in two Norwegian publications.
The OIC leader expressed regret that the Vatican has remained silent about the controversy, saying the silence hampers the process of dialogue. He also said the anger against Denmark was reflected by the huge boycott of Danish goods in response to the offensive cartoons. “If they have the freedom of expression, then individual Muslims have the freedom of choice,” he said.
He welcomed the decision by Saudi Arabia to recall its ambassador to Denmark. He also appreciated the Kuwaiti decision to protest to the Danish ambassador about the despicable cartoons.
Ihsanoglu acknowledged the conflicting issues of press freedom and respect for other religions but, he said, Danish authorities had a responsibility to control such material which incited hatred and religious intolerance.
“There are no two opinions about respecting freedom of expression... Muslims have no problem in accepting the right of the electronic and print media to exercise their freedoms without any let or hindrance,” Ihsanoglu said.
“Muslims strongly support exercising freedom of conscience as one of the principles that is completely in consonance with the Western concept of freedom of expression. However, it has to be exercised by taking into account respect for the values of those with whom one may disagree. Superimposing the right to revile other religions and prophets goes against the essence of freedom of expression, as no democracy, legal or political system allows the preaching of hate and insult for the sacred values and symbols of others.”
The OIC chief appealed to Muslims to stay calm. “We ask members of the Islamic nation to express their opinions in a civilized and peaceful manner and not to fall into mistakes that are unworthy of the Prophet (pbuh),” he added.
In a related development, a recent poll conducted in Copenhagen found a majority of Danes against their government and media apologizing to Muslims for the cartoons. The Epinion Research Institute in Denmark questioned 579 Danes for Danish radio. The institute reported that 79 percent said that Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen should not apologize on Denmark’s behalf; 18 percent said he should, and 3 percent were undecided.
