Annan's concern over controversy
February 2, 2006
The Scotsman
Original Source: http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=172772006

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan expressed concern at the controversy over a Danish newspaper's publication of caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad and said freedom of the press should respect religious beliefs.
Annan side-stepped criticism of the daily Jyllands-Posten for publishing the cartoons, which have sparked growing anger among Muslims because many were uncomplimentary and because Islamic tradition forbids portrayal of the prophet for fear this could lead to idolatry.
The secretary-general is concerned over the controversy that has been created by the publication of the Danish cartoons, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.
He believes that the freedom of the press should always be exercised in a way that fully respects the religious beliefs and tenets of all religions, Dujarric said. The secretary-general also believes in the importance of overcoming misunderstandings and animosities between people of different beliefs and cultural traditions through peaceful dialogue and mutual respect.
The newspaper has apologised for causing offense, but stood by the decision to print the cartoons, which appeared in September.
Anger against the cartoons, which were published in September, has led to a boycott of Danish goods in several Middle East countries.
On Monday, Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen said the government cannot make apologies on behalf of a Danish newspaper. That is not how our democracy works.
The editor of a Jordanian newspaper who took the step of publishing the caricatures has been sacked by its owner.
Jihad al-Momani, chief editor of the Arabic Shihan, said he reprinted the cartoons to show readers the extent of the Danish offence.
But hours later, Shihan's owner - the Arab Publishers Company - fired al-Momani for the reprints, saying the editor caused a shock to the firm and those responsible for it, the official Petra news agency reported.
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