Deal with Danish offenders strongly By Eman Al Baik, Adel Arafa and Peter Donnelly Khaleej Times 31 January 2006 http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/theuae/2006/January/theuae_January715.xml§ion=theuae&col=
ABU DHABI/DUBAI Angry Muslims in the UAE have rubbished the apology posted by the Danish newspaper that carried blasphemous cartoons, and urged the faithful to continue their boycott of Danish products. The carefully worded apology, many pointed out, does not convey the admission of wrongdoing and a withdrawal of the same, and as such is insincere. The use of freedom of expression as a justification to hurt the religious sentiments of hundreds of millions of Muslims the world over, is indicative of double standards, respondents told Khaleej Times. They say that the whole episode smacks of an insensitive and dirty publicity stunt by a newspaper. 'Freedom of expression is a very convenient cliché for many Western nations. Everyone knows what happened to freedom of expression in the US and the UK following the debacle in the war on Iraq and Afghanistan,' said Majid Ali, a Dubai resident. He pointed out that many individuals and organisations have benefited immensely in terms of publicity, even if negative, by writing and speaking ill about Islam and Islamic figures. 'I don't know about people of other faiths, but Muslims are very sensitive when it comes to religious issues, and this is what allows provocateurs to fan sentiments and become 'popular' internationally. How many of us knew the newspaper's name, and am not going to mention it, before this ugly episode happened?' he asked. Mohammed Nakhira Al Dhahiri, Minister of Justice and Islamic Affairs and Auqaf, told Khaleej Times that the ministry was preparing to counter the offence, which had been condemned by Muslims as well as non-Muslims. He called upon Denmark and all countries in the world to respect religions. Islam is a religion of peace, love and mercy. Consultant Ali Al Hoseini, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs and Auqaf and Assistant Under-Secretary of Fatwa and Legislations Affairs, said: 'There is no doubt we are angry with these countries who claim to be advanced and civilised, but commit such offensive acts.' Dr Muhammad Mahmoud Al Kamaly, General Manager of the Judicial Institute, called for a unified Arab Islamic confederation to confront those who vilify their religion. Those who attack their religion care for nothing but money. We should boycott their products permanently, he said. Muhammad Ahmed Al Kaitoub, Assistant Under-Secretary for Technical Affairs of the Ministry of Justice, said: 'Muslims have called upon all Islamic countries and the world to socially boycott Denmark and all other countries who offend our religion.' Ordinary Arab Muslim young men and women from different Arab countries have recently discussed the issue on the Internet. The subject is a hot topic on international chat sites as well, with heated sessions from participants who claimed they did not represent any government or organisation, but were speaking for themselves. Wa'el, one such participant, stressed the need to send polite letters to Danish embassies asking them to investigate the case and apologise officially to the Muslim nations via appropriate international channels. A list of web site addresses of Denmark embassies around the world was provided to each of the attendants who also recommended the need to boycott Danish products. Muslims should not keep silent even if Arab leaders continue to pretend nothing has happened, said Israa Magdi, from Egypt. He called upon the Vatican to issue an official apology to the Muslim nations based on respect for all religions. 'Even if the Danish government or the newspaper apologised, it will not lessen the harm done by them,' said Nawarah Al Maghribiya, a 20-year-old from Morocco. 'If Muslims keep silent, it means that they are weak and that would only open the doors for others to abuse our religion,' she argued. She, however, called upon Muslims to refrain from responding violently in keeping with the teachings of the prophet. 'But even if the government of Denmark apologises, Muslims should continue to boycott their products. This will be a lesson for all, not to dare abuse Islam,' she opined. Mohammed Shafiq Alvi, a Pakistani expatriate, called for diplomatic and economic sanctions on Denmark. 'If we take this blasphemous act lightly, such people will continue to offend our religious sentiments,' he added. Apology or plain regret? An anonymous post on islamineurope.blogspot.com had this to say about the apology posted by the newspaper: Watch out for your translation of the word "apologised"!! In Danish it is "beklaget" which means to "regret" or "be sorry for" but it is not the same as "undskyld": "I am sorry or I apologise" or "I beg your pardon" "Apologise" would mean to admit wrongdoing and withdrawing. That is not what Mr Juste (newspaper editor) is doing and he has at all times refrained from doing so. It is the reaction he is sorry about, not that they published the drawings. The correct sentence would be something like: "It was not our intention to offend anyone's beliefs. That it has happened anyway was therefore unintentional. We have regretted that many times during these last months..." As Western nationals here see it WESTERN nationals based in the UAE also spoke against the cartoons, with some terming the act unwise, disrespectful, and something that characterised lack of understanding of Islam on the part of some Western nations. "I think the Danish people were unwise, and lacking in wisdom. They probably didn't realise it would have provoked the reaction it did. But, the newspaper should have considered the sensitivity of the subject, and taken greater care," Ken Jackson, Educational Consultant, Magrudy's Educational Resource Centre, said. "I think it's wrong to be disrespectful of anyone's religion. I believe we should all be sensitive to people's feelings," opined Donal Kilalea, Partner, Promoseven. Martin Seward-Case, Senior Construction Professional and a homeowner in Dubai, said: "After fifteen years of exposure to the Middle East, I think the reaction that's happened is understandable. A public apology is in order. I think it typifies the lack of understanding about other cultures in the West, particularly about Islam and the seriousness Muslims attach to their faith. It should never have happened." http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/theuae/2006/January/theuae_January715.xml§ion=theuae&col= __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Join modern day disciples reach the disfigured and poor with hope and healing http://us.click.yahoo.com/lMct6A/Vp3LAA/i1hLAA/TXWolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> *************************************************************************** {Invite (mankind, O Muhammad ) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islam) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Inspiration and the Qur'an) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better. 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