A Syrian religious leader on Saturday criticized the protestors
for burning Danish and Norwegian embassies to vent anger at
publication of cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammad in
newspapers of the two countries.
Grand Mufti Sheikh Ahmed Badr al-Dean Hassoun expressed sorrow
over the way some people exploited in the protest, the official
SANA news agency reported.
"We feel sadness over what some people did, ... driven by their
emotions in which they impaired our dialogue with the Danish and
Norwegian peoples," Hassoun was quoted as saying.
He noted that the Danish ambassador brought him an official
letter from the Danish Prime Minister three days ago, in which he
apologized and expressed regret over what some Danish newspapers
did.
"We had already accepted the apology, and agreed that the Danish
newspaper concerned would publish articles ... on the noble
attributes and traits of the Prophet Mohammad so that we don't
reach the stage of conflict or lose friendship with our friends in
Europe who support Arab rights," he added.
Hassoun said the protest started in a "civilized way" on
Saturday, which was "unfortunately was turned by some rioters, who
don't know the language of dialogue, into damage and arson".
Syrian Minister of Islamic Endowments Mohammad Ziyad al-Ayoubi
also criticized the protestors' violent behavior.
Hundreds of Syrian demonstrators stormed and set fire to the
Danish and Norwegian embassies in Damascus Saturday afternoon and
then moved to the French embassy, but were broke up by the riot
police using tear gas and water cannons.
The cartoons were first published by the Danish newspaper,
Jyllands-Posten, last September and republished in Norway and other
European countries last month.
One of the cartoons depicts the prophet wearing a turban shaped
like a bomb.
Damascus has recalled its ambassador to Denmark for consultation
over the matter, SANA said Wednesday.
Earlier this week, the Syrian Foreign Ministry condemned the
cartoons as an offense to Muslims and Arabs and demanded the Danish
government punish the newspaper.
The Danish ambassador to Syria met late Thursday with Syria's
Grand Mufti Hassoun and conveyed Denmark's apology for the offense
caused by the cartoons.
SANA quoted the Danish ambassador as saying that the majority of
the Danes were very sorry for this situation which the newspaper
has put them into.
According to Islamic tradition, realistic depictions of prophets
were prohibited and caricatures of them were considered
profane.
(Xinhua News Agency February 5, 2006)
