COPENHAGEN: Irate Muslim reactions to the publication of cartoons depicting Prophet Mohammed reflect a global conflict between core values, Denmark s Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen said on Friday.
We are now witnessing a heated public debate here in Denmark and Europe as well as in Muslim countries. It is evident that we are dealing with core values in democracies and religious societies, Rasmussen said in an address to 76 foreign diplomats gathered in Copenhagen to discuss the cartoon row.
It is my firm belief that the only way ahead is a dialogue that allows us to strengthen our insight and understanding of each other. Mutual understanding is a must in today s globalized world, he added.
Muslim anger has surged over the 12 caricatures of Mohammed, which first appeared in Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten and later in other European newspapers, with demonstrations against Danes and other Europeans, Danish flags burnt, ambassadors recalled, Danish products boycotted and Scandinavians in Muslim countries threatened.
Rasmussen on Friday did not apologize, as many Muslims had hoped he would, for the publication of the cartoons, pointing out that Danish newspapers were free of state control.
But he said he was deeply distressed that many Muslims have seen the drawings in the newspaper as a defamation of the Prophet Mohammed.
Freedom of expression and freedom of the press are the very cornerstones of any democratic society … But freedom of expression should always be combined with freedom of religion and respect between religions and cultures, he said.
Those are fundamental values in the Danish society, and in many other societies, he added.
Rasmussen also tried to explain the widespread Danish use of satire.
The Danes are known for presenting their views in a frank and straightforward manner. We also use humor and satire, especially when questioning authorities, he said.
We consider humor and satire a softening and mollifying way of expression. And certainly not an insulting way of expressing oneself, he added.
He called on all the foreign diplomats at the meeting to take part in our endeavors to re-establish and strengthen the relations between our countries, lamenting the vast amount of misinformation that had been circulating in the case.
Denmark has tried to calm tensions in recent days before Muslims around the world headed to mosques for Friday prayers, amid fears that the sermons might further fuel the flames of discontent.
It remained unclear however if the government s diplomatic offensive would help quell the anger.
Now the protests have gone to the streets. It s not governments … It will take time for the people to forget that they were harmed by these pictures, Egyptian ambassador to Denmark Mona Omar Attia told AFP after the meeting. AFP
