Reactions on cartoons depicting prophet Mohammed
Syria-Regional, Politics, 2/7/2006

The Islamic Christian Joint Action Committee condemned Monday the publishing of some cartoons insulting Prophet Mohammed in some Danish and Western newspapers recently.

In a statement issued at the end of its meeting in the Syrian capital, the committee underlined that the Syrian people reject every offense to a holy belief, noting that such issues should not be touched upon, rather deserve total respect and appreciation.

The statement expressed sorrow for the unfamiliar and unacceptable way the papers followed in dealing with the Moslems' beliefs.

"This way does not go along with the civilization of Syrians who deeply believe in dialogue language among peoples," the statement added.

In Beirut, Patriarch Gregorious III Laham, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East for the Greek- catholic Church, denounced the caricatures insulting prophet Mohammed in some western papers, saying "such cartoons hurt Moslems' feelings and are considered as an abuse to Christians all over the world."

Laham underscored that behind this abuse is lying a great conspiracy aims at provoking sedition between Moslems and Christians as well, "we should face this conspiracy and refute the saying of 'clash of civilizations and religions'," he added.

Earlier, in Ankara, Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gull criticized the aggressive trend against Moslems that started to appear in some European Papers.

"Press freedom does not allow journalists to write or draw anything they want without limits," Gull told reporters pointing out that his country drew the world public opinion attention to this issue regarding its great importance.

In Cairo, thousands of Egyptians demonstrated to protest against cartoons published in some Danish and Western papers offending Prophet Mohammed.

Protesters were carrying banners and chanting slogans stressing that freedom does not mean insulting the Prophet who is considered the Prophet of mercy and humanity.

Meanwhile Arab Lawyers Union in Cairo called in a statement today for staging a sit in at its headquarters on Thursday to protest against the intended and recurrent abuses against Moslems, Islam and the Prophet Mohammed in many western countries.

The statement demand all religious and national institutions to defend human rights and prevent any abuse or offense to prophets, religions, and worship places.

Later in Iraq, Iraqis demonstrated in al-Slymaniah city to protest against the caricatures, calling for cut every kind of economic relationship with all countries that allowed publishing them.

Tehran also witnessed a demonstration to condemn the cartoons while the Iranian Foreign Ministry called upon Norway's charge d'affairs to protest against such publications, and the Iranian Health Ministry to prevent importing any medical instruments from Denmark.

Previous Stories:
  Grand Mufti of Syria expresses regret over embassies incidents   (2/6/2006)
  Norway, Denmark advise citizens to leave Syria   (2/6/2006)
  Protesters in Syria decry Mohammed cartoons, threaten retaliation   (2/4/2006)

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