Danish daily apologises to Saudis

Riyadh: The Danish newspaper that published blasphemous caricatures of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) has apologised to Saudi Arabia saying it never intended to offend the religious feelings of anybody.

Jyllands-Posten, the Danish newspaper, published the apology on its website.

The publication of the offensive cartoons sparked a wave of denunciation and boycott of Danish products across the Muslim world, especially in Saudi Arabia.

The boycott campaign also targeted Norwegian products as a radical newspaper from that country reprinted the cartoons in the name of freedom of expression.

In a message addressed to the "Respected citizens of Saudi Arabia," Jyllands-Posten said that it tenders an apology for erroneously publishing the cartoons that are offensive to the Prophet.

Not enough

The message, in the name of the newspaper's editor-in-chief Carsten Juste, says that the newspaper never intended to offend the religious feelings of anybody.

"Unfortunately what happened was not at all a deliberate act," he said.

According to Juste, the newspaper had apologised for publishing the caricatures several times during the past few months.

"Our apologies appeared in a number of other newspapers as well as on Danish television and radio besides being carried by various international print and electronic media. We also held meetings with representatives of the Muslim community of Denmark to apprise them of our position in this respect," he said.

In the message, Juste repeatedly stated that they did not intend to hurt the feelings of anybody, and that they firmly believe in upholding the religious freedom of all people in the country.

However, members running the public campaign in Saudi Arabia against Danish and Norwegian products said that the apology was not sufficient.

Muslims are seeking an official apology from the Danish authorities, they said, adding that the apology was not published in the newspaper but on its website.

Shaikh Abdul Aziz Alu Al Shaikh, Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, urged the leaders of the Muslim Ummah to stand united in protesting the offensive cartoons.

Call to cancel meetings

The 12 cartoons published by the Danish newspaper on September 30 last year included one showing the Prophet wearing a turban in the shape of a bomb with a burning fuse.

Islam bars any depiction of the Prophet, even respectful ones, out of concern that such images could lead to idolatry.

In another development, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the Eastern Province has urged the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry to take urgent steps to freeze all scheduled or forthcoming meetings between Saudi business delegations and their Danish counterparts.

"The meetings with any European business delegations, which include Danish delegates, should also be cancelled," the chamber said.

Delegation

Campaign against government

A delegation comprising representatives of some 40 Muslim organisations and institutions of Denmark is on a tour of Muslim countries to muster support for their campaign against the Danish government.

The delegation says the Danish government failed to take action against the newspaper which tarnished the image of the Prophet.

The delegation has already visited a number of countries, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Lebanon.

They held talks with several senior scholars and Islamic figures such as Shaikh Abdul Aziz Alu Al Shaikh, Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Shaikh Saleh Al Laheedan, president of the Saudi Supreme Judiciary Council, imams of the Haram Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque, Shaikh Sayed Tantawi, the Shaikh of Al Azhar, and muftis of Egypt and Lebanon. The delegation is scheduled to visit GCC States in the coming days.