Effects of new offensive video still unclear
CAIRO: The dialogue aimed at bridging gaps between Islam and the West may have suffered a setback in the light of recent events. The circulation of a Danish video depicting camp participants of the Danish Peoples Party’s Youth Organization mocking an offensive drawing of Prophet Mohammed has led to a growing misunderstanding that the video was aired intentionally to offend Muslims.
Muslims are shocked by a new offense [while] they are still pained by the Pope s remarks on Islam and on the blessed messenger of God, and from the cartoons defaming the esteemed Prophet, reads a statement issued by the Muslim Brotherhood.
The statement says the continuity of these offensive acts is proof of anti-Islamic animosities harbored by some segments in the West. Defaming Islam and provoking Muslims to act, violently on specific occasions, are among the aims of such segments, adds the statement.
The Danish cartoon crisis, in which cartoons depicting Prophet Mohammed in an offensive way were published in a Danish newspaper inciting anger among Muslims, was associated with violent demonstrations throughout the Muslim world. A widespread boycott campaign directed at Danish products was initiated and is reported to have cost certain Danish producers significant financial losses.
The Brotherhood statement called for sane reactions to the cartoons, in which objection is expressed peacefully. The group also called for resuming the boycott campaign against countries that allow such offenses. Dialogue also made it on to the list of demands; the statement called for increasing efforts in the realm to introduce and explain Islam to the world.
With the increasing circulation of the video and the anger it has fueled, the Danish government responded. The Danish government had already established a Web site to respond to the previous cartoon crisis and to update people around the world, in English and in Arabic, of the government s efforts to establish dialogue and fight stereotyping and racism. In a statement posted on the Web site of the Danish Embassy in Cairo, Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen condemned the events.
“I strongly condemn the behavior of members of the youth wing of the Danish Peoples Party during their summer camp, says Rasmussen. It is an unacceptable behavior of a small group of young people.
Their tasteless behavior does in no way represent the way the Danish people or young Danish people view Muslims or Islam. I have noted with great satisfaction that a broad spectrum of the youth wings of the political parties, including the Liberal Party, jointly have expressed their strong condemnation of the behavior.
According to reports, the film was taken at a private party during the summer camp of the Danish People s Party Youth Organization. The featured youth are apparently drunk and are shown laughing as an unidentified woman presents a drawing of a camel, saying it has the head of Mohammed with beer bottles as humps.
Party officials have reportedly refused to apologize and party leader Pia Kjaersgaard criticized media for airing the footage of what she called a private party. The Danish People s Party, which supports the current ruling coalition in Denmark, is known for its anti-immigrant platform, which was evident in its 2001 election campaign. It has been accused of racism.
The Danish Embassy, however, notes in its statement that the chairman of the political party to which the youth organization belongs and the chairman of the youth organization have distanced themselves from the behavior shown in the video-clips.
There is no doubt therefore, that such behavior is strongly opposed in Denmark.
In spite of efforts to contain the problem, a growing confusion has arisen regarding the video. Jakob Skovgaard-Petersen, director of the Danish-Egyptian Dialogue Institute (DEDI), says the airing of the video was aimed at exposing the radicalism of the party in question, not publicizing its policies. This, he continues, hasn t been rendered correctly in the media.
DEDI, the Cairo-based independent institution working to strengthen dialogue and mutual appreciation between Denmark and Europe on one hand, and Egypt and the Arab world on the other, within the fields of political, social and legal reforms, human rights and civil participation, aims to establish contact between people here and in Denmark so as to increase communication, eliminate rumors and clarify the truth in circulating news, he explains.
Skovgaard-Petersen hopes there will not be any violent reactions of the type that was associated with the Danish cartoon crisis. He says a peaceful reaction would assure the Danes that the Muslim community isn t trying to make problems but rather has its eye set on maintaining peaceful relations with others.
He notes that a number of Muslim organizations have already shown calm responses. He also notes the difference between this film and the Danish cartoon crisis; the film is far from being an official statement but rather footage of apparently drunk youngsters.
Nonetheless, he is worried about the conclusion some people might reach. He explains that some might think that this is what Denmark is all about since it is the second time offensive material has originated in the country.
In spite of the current offenses and angry but contained reactions, Mariam Al-Moatassem chooses to focus on the silver lining. Al-Moatassem, an editor at the youth-oriented 20nat.com and a participant in a dialogue program between Denmark and Egypt, says this negative incident could have positive effects if utilized properly.
Reflecting on her experience visiting Denmark in the wake of the Danish cartoon crisis to talk with Danish youth, Al-Moatassem recalls the interest with which people asked her questions about Islam and a Muslim s respect for Prophet Mohammed. She says they didn t understand why Muslims reacted in such a violent way to what they perceived as mere cartoons.
It s notable that communication efforts haven t been stopped or halted thus far; a group of Danish youth will visit Egypt this month under the helm of the same program that invited Al-Moatassem and a number of Egyptians to Denmark last March.
Titled Next Stop, the program is funded by DEDI.
