JEDDAH, 2 February 2006 — The Danish government urged representatives of its Muslim community on Monday to participate in a visit to the Middle East in an effort to calm Muslims reaction toward the blasphemous cartoons published in September depicting Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in the Danish daily Jyllands-Posten.
Fatih Alev, a Danish imam, said that his country’s prime minister expressed the need for the Danish Muslim community to help in this situation.
“We are requested to clarify that the government has no say over the media,” Alev told Arab News.
Alev said that Muslims managed to deliver their message through the boycott and there has been an impact on the Danish economy.
“Now it is time to clarify that the newspaper that has apologized for publishing the cartoons was unaware about the sensitivity of this issue with Muslims,” he said, emphasizing Denmark’s separation of the media from the government’s control.
Alev expressed that the Danish Muslims are citizens who pay taxes and enjoy various government benefits and they are as well affected by the economic impact resulting from this boycott.
Meanwhile, reports about burning the Holy Qur’an next Saturday in Copenhagen’s main square are unfounded, said Alev. “Rumors were circulating through SMS and e-mail messages, therefore they cannot be trusted,” he said.
The Danish police issued a report yesterday that they would arrest any groups or individuals planning any racist act, he said.
The police also reported that they would be present in the capital city’s square next Saturday just in case of any improper act against Muslims, he added.
The Saudi Press Agency reported that Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen warned yesterday against any formation of negative reactions toward Muslims in Denmark.
The prime minister said that the current situation should be dealt with in a special manner, away from violence and revenge.
The Danish imam said that Muslims there have expressed their dissatisfaction by participating in the Danish media and holding public debates.
Muslims who make up three percent of the Danish population of 5.2 million, are now better heard and known than before, he said.
“Now, every one knows for sure that there is no unlimited freedom of expression,” he said.
Abdul Wahid Pedersen, vice chairman of the Islamic Christian Study Center, said that Muslims did not face any discrimination from the Danish government or its people during this controversy.
“Denmark appreciates the freedom of religion,” he said, adding that in rare cases from time to time they encounter some criticism by individuals and hear some rude talks about Islam.
There were no boycott reactions by Muslims in Denmark, because most of the market’s product is made locally.
“Though we could not have an actual reaction, we appreciate the steps taken by our brother Muslims all over the world,” he said.
The Danish Politiken newspaper published yesterday a move by Herbert Pundik, former editor in chief of the Politiken, to hold a campaign to collect donations in order to build a big mosque in Copenhagen.
Pundik said this would be a move to formulate a different picture of Denmark and its drive toward respecting the freedom of all religions.
