The Muslim cartoons published by a Danish newspaper months ago
were "imprudent," but reactions from the Muslim world are not
justified, said EU justice and security chief Franco Frattini on
Thursday.
"I can understand the feelings of indignation, frustration and
sadness of the Muslim communities over the last few days as they
viewed the cartoons published by a Danish newspaper," said
Frattini, European Commission vice president for justice and
security affairs, in a statement.
"Such events do not facilitate dialogue between faiths and
cultures and provide barriers to the integration process to which
the member states of the (European) Union are committed."
"However, one of the founding principles of our Europe is
freedom of expression, including the right to criticize," he
said.
He said reactions from the Muslim world are completely
unacceptable.
"It should be crystal clear to all that violence, intimidation,
and the calls for boycotts or for restraints on the freedom of the
press are completely unacceptable and will not bring about a
constructive discussion between communities."
The caricatures of the Muslim prophet Muhammed published in
September by Danish newspaper Jyllends Posten brought about waves
of protests in the Muslim world.
Several countries have recalled their ambassadors from Denmark
while religious leaders and the Egyptian Parliament have urged a
boycott of Danish products.
The standoff between Europe and the Muslim world deepened as
several European newspapers have reprinted the caricatures in
solidarity with the Danish paper in the past two days.
(Xinhua News Agency February 3, 2006)
