[nasional_list] [ppiindia] Danish Muslims split over cartoons
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- Date: Sun, 12 Feb 2006 10:15:46 +0100
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**http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4692318.stm
Last Updated: Wednesday, 8 February 2006, 11:43 GMT
Danish Muslims split over cartoons
By Thomas Buch-Andersen
Copenhagen, Denmark
The Danish government has appealed for calm in the row
Many moderate Muslims in Denmark have been shocked by the violence and
deaths around the world prompted by the row over Danish cartoons satirising the
Prophet Muhammad.
Rabih Azad-Ahmad, chair of the Multicultural Association, said the row
had become too confrontational.
"Now, we have to demonstrate that we are proud of being Danish and that
we are supporting Danish values," he said.
In an unexpected turn, the reaction to the attacks on Danish embassies
could help promote integration in Denmark.
"I didn't know there were so many Muslims in Denmark who are supporting
Western values," said Soren Espersen, an MP for the populist Danish People's
Party.
Politicians and the media have a tendency to see Muslims only as
criminal, anti-social elements and as potential rapists
Open letter by Danish writers
His comments mark a turnaround for the party, which has grown to be the
country's third largest on a political platform of nationalism and xenophobia.
They are also likely to have been welcomed by a group of Danish writers
who warned two months ago that the harsh tone in the national debate about
Muslims and integration was comparable to Nazi rhetoric against Jews.
"Politicians and the media have a tendency to see Muslims only as
criminal, anti-social elements and as potential rapists," the writers said in
an open letter.
Wake-up call?
However, some of the strongest protests against the cartoons have come
from imams who are part of the government's integration think tank.
"We want the newspaper to promise that this will never happen again, or
this will never stop," said imam Ahmad Akkari of the Islamic Faith Society.
Ahmad Akkari says a similar incident must never happen again
For the Danish integration minister, Rikke Hvilshoj, that stance is a
wake-up call.
"It is very clear that we cannot trust the imams any longer if we want
integration to succeed in Denmark," Mrs Hvilshoj says.
The conflict is also politically explosive for Prime Minister Anders Fogh
Rasmussen.
The international crisis is his first big test after more than four years
in office.
Former spin doctor and political commentator Peter Mogensen warned that
if the violence does not stop soon, Mr Rasmussen could lose his job.
"The prospects of further escalation, of terrorist attack against Danish
property and beheadings of Danes on al-Jazeera would make the current situation
look like a picnic," Mr Mogensen said.
The opposition has also accused the prime minister is acting too late.
No more apologies
Nonetheless, Mr Rasmussen's government and its diplomats are working
around the clock to control the damage.
Fifteen Muslim countries, from Algeria to Pakistan, are boycotting Danish
goods. So far, nearly 200 jobs have been lost in Denmark.
More jobs could be on the line if the boycotts continue, as Denmark's
exports to the Arab world are worth almost $2.6 billion (£1.5 billion) a year.
Many Danes are disturbed by the worldwide reaction to the cartoons
While most Danish Muslims are satisfied by the apology already issued by
Jyllands-Posten, the newspaper that first published the cartoons, half of Danes
still think that the paper could do more to appease the Arab world.
Editor-in-chief Carsten Juste remains firm. "We are sorry for any offence
caused by the drawings, but we cannot apologise for freedom of expression," he
said.
Since 2003, Denmark has supported a broad range of democratic projects
and initiatives across the Arab world.
It is unclear how many of those countries will care to listen any longer.
So far, all trips by Danish staff connected to these projects have been put on
hold.
For many Danes the past two weeks have been surreal.
Since the time when many Danes helped thousands of Jews to safety from
German-occupied Denmark in World War II, the Scandinavian country has had a
reputation for being peace-loving and harmless.
That might still be true. But the perception among millions of Muslims
has changed. And that will take years to bring back to balance.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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