Protesters seek freeze on trade with EU

Abu Dhabi: The popular protest against Denmark and Norway over blasphemous cartoons appeared to be spreading to encompass all of Europe.

Participants of a 500-strong rally in the capital yesterday urged the European Union to officially apologise to the Muslim world for the offensive cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), carried by newspapers in some member countries.

Hundreds of people of different nationalities marched in a peaceful rally to denounce the offensive act by European newspapers.

Speakers demanded that the EU tender a collective apology for the blasphemous act, which they said has hurt the sentiments of Muslims across the world.

Carrying placards with slogans "We Learned from our Prophet to Respect others Try to Learn from Him" and "Stop Your Hate, Onslaught Try to Understand", they called upon Muslim governments to suspend all their trade exchanges and activities with the European Union.

One of the participants termed the insult by European newspapers as worse than a terrorist act. "Instead of calling us terrorists, they should put their own EU house in order," said Mohammad Baig, a Pakistani expatriate. "The act by these newspapers is worse than a terrorist act."

Munir Shaker, an Arab expatriate, said: "With this act, the European community has lost its respect and dignity of the Muslim world. We are a peaceful people and respect all other religions, so we do deserve this respect from others."