Strongly-worded memos of protest denouncing insults against Prophet Muhammad

Memos wonder whether there are some international Zionist sides behind malicious campaign

The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Abdulrahman Al-Attiyah denounced the re-publication of caricature in Danish newspapers seen as abusive to the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), and described the action as "frivolous conduct".

In a press statement, Al-Attiyah called on the authorities in Denmark to put an end to these provocative actions of the feelings of hundreds of millions of Muslims and the non-recurrence of such irresponsible conduct by holding accountable those responsible for the publication of the drawings.

He said that this work is an act of extremism, against which the Islamic religion is strict and should combat.

He warned of the negative repercussions of these abusive acts against the Prophet (PBUH) vis-à-vis the proposed dialogue of civilizations and religions.

Al-Attiyah met in Riyadh with Danish ambassador to the kingdom Hans Klinginberg who handed a copy of the statement issues by Danish Premier Anders Fogh Rasmussen on the recently re-published caricature blasphemous to the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.

During the meeting, the GCC Secretary General emphasized that the re-publication of these caricatures is unacceptable and underlined the importance of the respect of religious beliefs and symbols.

Jordan's Lower House of Parliament condemned the reprinting of cartoons "blasphemous to the Prophet Mohammad" by Danish newspapers and dubbed it as an "irresponsible" action that should be stopped by the Copenhagen government.

"The House of Representatives has been surprised over the reprinting of the blasphemous pictures by Danish newspapers and considers the step an irresponsible behavior indicative of extreme recklessness and absence of values," the chamber said in a statement.

At least 17 Danish newspapers reprinted the controversial cartoons in the wake of an alleged murder plot by Muslim extremists against one of the cartoonists.

They said that they wanted to show their firm commitment to the freedom of expression after the arrest of two Tunisians and a Dane of Moroccan origin accused of plotting to kill the cartoonist who published the caricatures for the first time in the newspaper Jyllands-Posten two years ago.

The Global Program for Introducing the Prophet of Mercy (peace be upon him) condemns the return of the offensive caricatures of Muhammad published recently in a group of Danish newspapers. Dr. Adil Al-Shiddy, Secretary-General of the Global Program for Introducing the Prophet of Mercy, described this act as being heinous and a flagrant violation, harming the sensitivities of Muslims worldwide.

He insists that such an action was a deliberate provocation. The united effort of these newspapers in ‘redeploying’ abusive caricatures in one day, thereby profaning the status of the Prophets, especially that of the seal of the Prophets, Muhammad (peace be upon him) deserves condemnation. Such an action threatens the coexistence of cultures, religions and peoples.

He called for the responsible and those with sensibility in Denmark and the EU to affirm a clear position in condemning such malevolence, as well as the repeated disregard and deliberate abuse, poor sense of responsibility that has characterized those newspapers.

He was surprised at the link between signs of those individuals who are said to be plotting to kill one of the artists who drew the caricatures and those that have deliberately insulted the feelings of an entire Islamic nation in that which it considers sacred.

The Secretary-General advises his Muslim brothers in Denmark to observe proper Islamic behavior in denying legitimacy of this heinous act. He encourages restraint and advises the Muslim community to refrain from opening up an opportunity for those who want to divide them.

The Secretary-General appealed to the Muslim world to continue in their efforts to support the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and explained that the greatest forms in which one may support their Prophet is by emulating his character in speech and action. He concluded by calling for a renewal of effort in a systemized and organized form, and to make use of media and modern technology to show the world the truth regarding the Last Prophet (peace be upon him) of whom Allah said: “We sent thee not, but as a Mercy for all creatures.” [Surat Al-Anbiyaa: 107]

Egypt summoned the Danish ambassador in Cairo over cartoons deemed offensive to Islam reprinted in Danish newspapers last week, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

The ministry said the ambassador had been summoned “to express Egypt’s rejection of the Danish press’s attempt to repeat the offence to feelings of Muslims and their holy symbols around the world.”

The government has also banned the sale of four international newspapers for printing pictures “offensive to Prophet Mohamed,” the official MENA news agency reported.

Under a decree issued by Information Minister Anas El Fiqi, Germany’s Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and Die Welt, Britain’s Observer and the US Wall Street Journal will not be sold, MENA said.

“Any newspaper or magazine which publishes anything offensive to the Prophet ... and reprints the offensive caricatures of the Prophet or anything offensive to the three heavenly religions will be banned,” Fiqi said.

It was not immediately clear which day’s editions were banned. “People's Assembly has condemned the republishing of a cartoon demonizing Prophet Muhammad of Islam in leading Danish newspapers,” according to a release issued Wednesday 20/2/2008.

Ahmed Fathi Sorour, the Assembly Speaker, called on the Foreign Ministry to act to get Copenhagen to honor its international commitments in accordance with the UN Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, created in 1966.

"Each state party to the present covenant undertakes to respect and to ensure to all individuals within its territory and subject to its jurisdiction the rights recognized in the present covenant, without distinction of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status," so entails Article II of the covenant.

Originally published by Jyllands-Posten - a Danish newspaper - the cartoons hurt Muslims' feelings and defame Islam, which is a religion of tolerance and peace, the release stressed.

Meantime, the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs (ECFA) has condemned some Danish newspapers' republication of cartoons insulting Prophet Muhammad.

ECFA Chairman Abdel-Raouf el-Ridi said the newspapers have erred for the second time in practicing the freedom of expression and caused harm to one billion Muslims.

Such a stance is condemned in the strongest words, he said, adding that religious beliefs and values should receive due respect.