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February 23, 2006
Islamic countries denounce violence over cartoons
The Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) has denounced calls for the death of the Danish cartoonist who satirised the Prophet Mohammed. OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu said in Pakistan that the calls were un-Islamic and urged Muslims to refrain from violent protests. The cartoons were first published in a Danish newspaper last September. Many people have died in recent protests, including five in Pakistan.
Islamic tradition prohibits any depiction of Allah or the Prophet. On Monday the Iranian foreign minister urged calm. "We should try to cool down the situation," Manouchehr Mottaki said. "We do not support any violence." There have been offers of rewards in Pakistan and India in recent days for anyone killing the cartoonist.
'European values'
The OIC's Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu told journalists in Islamabad: "This is not a joke to go and say kill this and that. This is a very serious matter and nobody has the authority to issue a ruling to kill people." He said that violent protests, such as burning of vehicles and buildings did not project the true spirit of Islam in the eyes of the West.
Source: [BBC]
"Violence weakens us. Violence works against us. Anything except violence is helpful." Mr Ihsanoglu also denounced the calls for boycott of Danish and European products across the Muslim world.
He said the OIC was seeking an assurance from the EU that such incidents would not be repeated in the future and called upon the West to ensure that the dignity of Islam was respected. Mr Ihsanoglu expressed regret at the failure of some newspapers and governments to apologise to Muslims and rejected the justification that it was an issue of freedom of expression.
"What we are looking for is that you take our sensitivities in your definition [of freedom of expression]. If you fail to do that... it will be a problem of credibility and a problem of universality of European values."
Protests against the controversial cartoons continued in Pakistan with nearly 2,000 people in taking part in a rally near the main town of Wana in South Waziristan. In Rawalpindi traders closed their shops as a mark of protest. Reports say about five of the city's major markets were closed.
Posted at 12:07 PM in Cartoon rows | Permalink
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Comments
While I appreciate Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu's request to the Muslim faithful to restrain themselves, that it is "un-islamic behavior". I think we all know it is most certainly typical Islamic behavior, as has been and as is being demonstrated now all over the globe.... Islam appears to westerners and well it should, to be a religion of maniacs, completely void of any logic or sensitivity, blind to anything but some obscene and pathological committment to a religion of hatred and violence.
The intervention of a minority of sane Muslims doesnt mediate the threat this monstrous religion poses to the civilized world. In some instances the only way to depose violence is violenceitself, they don't seem to understand anything but oppression, it's sad to say we may have lost the best friend we had in the area, Sadaam kept a foot on their backs and a sword to their throats.
Posted by: baxter | Feb 23, 2006 1:48:54 PM
So, this is the end of cartoons about jews, christians and other religions in arab newspapers?
Posted by: Erik | Feb 24, 2006 3:36:15 AM
All attempts at reason should be applauded. Therefore I applaud the condemnation of violence from some in a place where violence affects all too many. Let’s all hope such righteous positions become more common.
Peace is Islamic to the extent that it is practiced by the followers of Islam. The condemnation of violence by Islamic leaders is clearly a step in the right direction – despite its diminishing codicil. But, in the end, only actions (or lack thereof) truly matter. The voices of reason are often drowned out by the screams of the dying and those seeking revenge.
History will judge us all by how many actual actions are taken to support or undermine peace and civilization.
In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is.
-Yogi Berra
Posted by: Moderate | Feb 25, 2006 11:09:30 PM
The common denominator to 99.9% of terrorism, fanaticism, irrationalism. I mean mass rioting, willingness to take a broad affront over a silly cartoon... is Islam. It is a monstrous religion, allowing a deranged few to contol a deranged mass. The idea that Islam is a peaceful religion is absurd. Defenders of the faith can talk until the cows come home but the proof is in the pudding, the western world is wearing it on their heads.
Posted by: baxter | Feb 26, 2006 9:20:28 AM
the biggest threat from Muslim terrrorists would be if they joined the British and American armed forces and used the weapons against us. look at the damage they did with passenger planes, imagine what they could do with fighter planes? Muslims should not be allowed in our armies. anyone remember the Muslim American soldier who killed some of his colleagues by throwing a grenade into their camp? that's just a warning of worse things that could happen. I'm not anti-Muslim nor do i have anything against normal Muslims, but we've got to be vigilant and not politically correct.
Posted by: YAYAYAYAYAYA | Mar 21, 2006 12:23:54 PM
