Islam-Denmark-Freedom of Expression
The secretary-general of the Organization of the Islamic Conference expressed outrage over Danish press printing caricatures blaspheming Great Prophet Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him).

Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu urged Muslims to use legal and peaceful means to protest.

He said that he wished the Danish media would have chosen another subject as a test case to reassert the freedom of speech instead of supporting a blatant act of incitement to hatred in a most unfortunate and senseless manner.

Ihsanoglu said that the newspapers were aware that this act would offend not only Danish Muslims but the world's other 1.3 billion Muslims.

More than a dozen papers in Denmark last week reprinted what was the most controversial of the 12 cartoons that enraged Muslims in early 2006 when they appeared in Western newspapers.

Ihsanoglu said it was unfortunate that the alleged behavior of a few individuals could be used in a modern European country as an excuse for conducting a new campaign of hatred against Muslims by insulting their belief and their most sacred spiritual values and symbols, and that such behavior could be condoned by so many.

He said it was unacceptable that Islam and Muslims were represented as enemies of free speech.

Ihsanoglu reiterated that Muslims have no problem with the freedom of speech as a fundamental human right but expect a minimal level of respect and responsibility in the exercise of this right.

He condemned and opposed all death threats, incitements to violence and violent manifestations of disapproval stemming from some individuals and called on Muslim Danish citizens and Muslims living in Denmark to make known their views through the peaceful and democratic means available in their host county.

The OIC secretary-general said that it was regrettable that the issue had re-emerged at a time when the international community was trying to promote values of mutual respect, tolerance and peaceful existence among people of different cultures and faiths in order to heal the wounds of the previous unfortunate events.

Ihsanoglu said the Muslim world awaited a stand by Danish authorities against acts of intolerance and incitement to hatred as expressed in the 1996 International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights, which states "any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence shall be prohibited by law."