**The editor of a Norwegian Christian newspaper has apologised to Muslims for publishing cartoons lampooning Prophet Muhammad that triggered a furore including the burning of Norway’s embassy in Syria. **
Vebjoern Selbekk, who initially defended his 10 January publication of the cartoons in Magazinet as an expression of press freedom, shook hands after his apology with a Muslim leader in Norway who said he considered the controversy over.
Denmark seems totally isolated in Scandinavia, and the rest of Europe. Not many countries are now going on about “freedom of speech”, rather it’s all talk about apologies, new media regulation and codes etc.
Denmark should have acted faster than it did -Finnish FM
The Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Erkki Tuomioja (soc dem), said in a Finnish Broadcasting Company (YLE) breakfast programme Wednesday that Denmark should have been quicker off the mark in its response to the Danish newspaper cartoons that have sparked outrage among Muslims. Mr Tuomioja added that the Danish government could apologise for the affront without endangering the freedom of speech. “Perhaps the matter should have been taken more seriously already when ambassadors from 11 Muslim countries sought audience with the prime minister, and the prime minister refused to hear them,” Mr Tuomioja said.
The Council of Europe will release an official report to urge the Danish administration to take action against hostility and discrimination towards Muslims; two concepts prompted by a Danish newspaper’s publication of cartoons insulting Islam’s most revered figure, the Prophet Mohammed.
Time to reap the whirlwind boys and girls. No one likes an Islamaphobe, kick 'em out of Europe.
Remember what I said about Scandinavian isolation of Denmark?
**Sweden shuts website over cartoon **
The Swedish government has moved to shut down the website of a far-right political party’s newspaper over cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad. The site’s host, Levonline, pulled the plug on the website of the Swedish Democrats’ SD-Kuriren newspaper after consulting with the government. It is believed to be the first time a Western government has intervened to block a publication in the growing row.
STOCKHOLM, February 10, 2006 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – The Swedish government has acted swiftly to prevent what could have been another “cartoon war” when it canceled a contest planned by a Swedish right-wing party on cartoons of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).
Swedish Foreign Minister Laila Freivalds decided to halt the Web site of the small nationalist party Sweden Democrats, which planned the Prophet cartoons contest," Abdul Razik Wabri, official of the Islamic League of Sweden, told IOL Friday, February 10.
What the leaders of the Western world are saying is that the depictions were insensitive, but no one is backing away from their freedom of speech. As a matter of fact, several newspapers in theUS have printed them as well.
But more to the point, the "extreme" reaction by the Muslims has done nothing but reinforce the sentiments of the entire world. How do you think the Danes will feel about the Palestinians when Islamic Jihad makes the Danes pay? How do you think the French already feel, they are passing laws that target Muslims...let's not forget the head dress law.
The hit is just the first punch Ma ji. Muslims are getting isolated all over the world. People are wondering why there are no protests of the Shia killed in Pakistan.
I think your abit behind. The danes are getting more and more isolated and the EU are calling for a new media Policy. I think we can safely say we have achieved what we want. Our point has hit home.
This is not due to isolation or retreat from their position. This is from fear. They are afraid, like the French and the Spanish. They are afraid that Islamic Jihad is going to make them pay, they are afraid of the money the Taliban want to offer for killing the cartoonist. They are afraid for their diplomats.
Now there are college newspapers in the US that are print the image.
