U.N. Spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Friday that U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan “believes that the freedom of the press should always be exercised in a way that fully respects the religious beliefs and tenets of all religions,” according to the L.A. Times
The U.S. State Department on Friday criticised the cartoons, calling them “offensive to the beliefs of Muslims.” The department recognised the important of freedom of the press and expression but said these rights must be partnered with press responsibility.
"Inciting religious or ethnic hatred in this manner is not acceptable," Janelle Hironimus, department press officer, said according to an AP report on Friday. "We call for tolerance and respect for all communities and for their religious beliefs and practices."
France’s Chief Rabbi, Joseph Sitruk, said to the European Jewish Press on Feb. 2, “I share the anger of Muslims following this publication.”
“I understand the hostility in the Arab world. One does not achieve anything by humiliating religion. It’s a dishonest lack of respect,” Sitruk stressed.
He added that he was a long-time opponent of those who mock Christianity and Islam.
“You don’t get anywhere by insulting religion,” he said.
On the other hand, others have expressed their support of freedom of expression over religious sensitivity.
Patrick Chappatte, a cartoonist quoted in the Swiss newspaper Le Temps, said, “The reaction in Muslim countries shocks me because it confirms the weight that radical Islam has acquired.”
“A real totalitarianism is at work in the world and wants to impose its views not only on Arab Muslims, but on the West,” he stated. “The same way that they veil women, Islamic radicals want to veil cartoons in the press.”
French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy, who expressed the need to defend freedom of expression, said “... if I had to choose, I prefer the excess of caricatures over the excess of censure.”
In Germany, the newspaper Die Welt asked readers whether “cartoons should be published which might hurt religious feelings.” Among almost 20,000 participants, 56 percent voted for “should be published” and 42.1 percent disagreed, the L.A. Times reported. Fewer than two percent said they had no opinion.
Some have pointed out that the event exposes the difficulties Europe is facing in absorbing the rapidly growing Muslim population. Islam is now the second-largest religion in France, with about five million adherents.
Moreover, the controversies over the cartoons show the large difference between views on relationship between state, religion and media. Arab leaders are demanding that the European government sanction the journalists. However, leaders in Denmark and other countries say that censorship is “unacceptable and that the government cannot be held responsible for what appears in the media,” according to the L.A. Times.
Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Thursday called foreign diplomats to a meeting that day aimed at calming the tension. More than 70 ambassadors attended, including those from predominantly Muslim Egypt, Turkey, Iran and Lebanon.
However, Egypt’s ambassador said that Rasmussen’s response has been inadequate and that the country should do more to “appease the whole Muslim world,” according to AP. She also said she will urge diplomatic protests against the country to continue.
The caricatures have appeared recently in newspaper in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and even Jordan according to reports.
Muslims have responded by boycotting Danish products in the Middle East, issuing death threats and burning flags.
Michelle Vu
Christian Today Correspondent
