Danish Paper Settles Muhammad Cartoon Issue
2 posters
Danish Paper Settles Muhammad Cartoon Issue
Danish Paper Settles Muhammad Cartoon Issue
The Danish daily Politiken, which partners with SPIEGEL ONLINE, has reached a settlement with the descendants of the Prophet Muhammad, apologizing for the offence caused by the Muhammad caricatures republished by the paper. Not all politicians in Denmark support the move.
As the first newspaper to do so, Politiken has reached a settlement with descendants of the Prophet Muhammad in connection with the affront its reprint of drawings of the Prophet Muohammad in 2008 may have caused Muslims.
The settlement was reached between Politiken and eight organisations representing 94,923 descendants of the Prophet Muhammad in a move Politiken's Editor-in-Chief Tøger Seidenfaden says shows that dialogue is the way forward.
"The settlement looks ahead and expresses very sensible views. It may possibly reduce the tensions that have shown themselves to be so resilient. It gives us hope that relations between Denmark, and not least its media, and the Muslim world can be improved," Seidenfaden says, adding he does not believe Politiken's move is a freedom of speech sellout.
Under the settlement, Politiken has not given up its right to publish the cartoons and does not apologize for having printed them, but rather expresses regret for the affront felt by some Muslims.
Lawyer Faisal Yamani, who entered into the settlement on behalf of the descendants of the Prophet Muhammad says the settlement is a good one.
'It's Crazy'
"This is a good settlement. It would be wrong to speak of a victory. Both parties have reached the point where they understand the background to what has happened. Politiken is courageous in apologizing, even though its was not their intention to offend anyone," Yamani says.
Several Danish politicians have condemned the move.
"It's crazy. The media carries offensive material every day. That is what freedom of speech is about," says Social Democratic leader Helle Thorning-Schmidt. Socialist People's Party leader Villy Søvndal says that "freedom of speech is not up for negotiation."
The Danish People's Party leader Pia Kjærsgaard says she is "speechless" in finding words to express how absurd the situation is.
"It is deeply, deeply embarrassing that Tøger Seidenfaden has sold out of Denmark's and the West's freedom of speech. I cannot distance myself enough from this total sell-out to this doctrine," Kjærsgaard says.
Neither the prime minister nor the foreign minister have had the opportunity to comment on the issue, but the Liberal Political Spokesman Peter Christensen says "it is strange that Politiken felt the need to apologize. I don't see what there is to apologize for."
A World Full of Conflict
The former Liberal Chairman and Foreign Minister Uffe Ellemann-Jensen, however is positive. "The paper loses nothing by apologizing. In a world full of conflict, where too many paint themselves into a corner, it would be good to see more of these types of attempts to reach a common understanding," Ellemann-Jensen says.
In August last year, a total of 11 Danish newspapers were approached by Yamani with demands that the cartoons be removed from Internet pages, that media apologize and that they promise not to re-print the cartoons in question, or others, again.
Politiken is the only newspaper that has chosen to reach a settlement, at the same time avoiding attempts by the descendants of the Prophet Muhammad to sue the newspaper.
Jyllands-Posten, the paper which first printed the Muhammad caricatures, has also received a letter from the lawyer Yamani. But the paper told Politiken that it has no interest in a settlement which involves an apology.
Jyllands-Posten's Editor-in-Chief Jørn Mikkelsen says it is regrettable that Politiken has folded, instead of maintaining solidarity with the other newspapers. "Politiken has betrayed the battle for freedom of speech. They've given up and bowed to threats. That is, of course, disgraceful," Mikkelsen says.
The Danish daily Politiken, which partners with SPIEGEL ONLINE, has reached a settlement with the descendants of the Prophet Muhammad, apologizing for the offence caused by the Muhammad caricatures republished by the paper. Not all politicians in Denmark support the move.
As the first newspaper to do so, Politiken has reached a settlement with descendants of the Prophet Muhammad in connection with the affront its reprint of drawings of the Prophet Muohammad in 2008 may have caused Muslims.
The settlement was reached between Politiken and eight organisations representing 94,923 descendants of the Prophet Muhammad in a move Politiken's Editor-in-Chief Tøger Seidenfaden says shows that dialogue is the way forward.
"The settlement looks ahead and expresses very sensible views. It may possibly reduce the tensions that have shown themselves to be so resilient. It gives us hope that relations between Denmark, and not least its media, and the Muslim world can be improved," Seidenfaden says, adding he does not believe Politiken's move is a freedom of speech sellout.
Under the settlement, Politiken has not given up its right to publish the cartoons and does not apologize for having printed them, but rather expresses regret for the affront felt by some Muslims.
Lawyer Faisal Yamani, who entered into the settlement on behalf of the descendants of the Prophet Muhammad says the settlement is a good one.
'It's Crazy'
"This is a good settlement. It would be wrong to speak of a victory. Both parties have reached the point where they understand the background to what has happened. Politiken is courageous in apologizing, even though its was not their intention to offend anyone," Yamani says.
Several Danish politicians have condemned the move.
"It's crazy. The media carries offensive material every day. That is what freedom of speech is about," says Social Democratic leader Helle Thorning-Schmidt. Socialist People's Party leader Villy Søvndal says that "freedom of speech is not up for negotiation."
The Danish People's Party leader Pia Kjærsgaard says she is "speechless" in finding words to express how absurd the situation is.
"It is deeply, deeply embarrassing that Tøger Seidenfaden has sold out of Denmark's and the West's freedom of speech. I cannot distance myself enough from this total sell-out to this doctrine," Kjærsgaard says.
Neither the prime minister nor the foreign minister have had the opportunity to comment on the issue, but the Liberal Political Spokesman Peter Christensen says "it is strange that Politiken felt the need to apologize. I don't see what there is to apologize for."
A World Full of Conflict
The former Liberal Chairman and Foreign Minister Uffe Ellemann-Jensen, however is positive. "The paper loses nothing by apologizing. In a world full of conflict, where too many paint themselves into a corner, it would be good to see more of these types of attempts to reach a common understanding," Ellemann-Jensen says.
In August last year, a total of 11 Danish newspapers were approached by Yamani with demands that the cartoons be removed from Internet pages, that media apologize and that they promise not to re-print the cartoons in question, or others, again.
Politiken is the only newspaper that has chosen to reach a settlement, at the same time avoiding attempts by the descendants of the Prophet Muhammad to sue the newspaper.
Jyllands-Posten, the paper which first printed the Muhammad caricatures, has also received a letter from the lawyer Yamani. But the paper told Politiken that it has no interest in a settlement which involves an apology.
Jyllands-Posten's Editor-in-Chief Jørn Mikkelsen says it is regrettable that Politiken has folded, instead of maintaining solidarity with the other newspapers. "Politiken has betrayed the battle for freedom of speech. They've given up and bowed to threats. That is, of course, disgraceful," Mikkelsen says.
BubbleBliss
Re: Danish Paper Settles Muhammad Cartoon Issue
What drives me crazy is how some can offend Christians but to offend Muslims with caricatures of Mohammad is blasphemy.
This should go in Religion, btw.
This should go in Religion, btw.
TexasBlue
Re: Danish Paper Settles Muhammad Cartoon Issue
Well I figured that it's both political and religious so I just posted it in here with my other articles...
I think that has something to do with the fact that Muslims are still very, very Conservative whereas Christians have gotten more liberal over the years.
I think that has something to do with the fact that Muslims are still very, very Conservative whereas Christians have gotten more liberal over the years.
BubbleBliss
Re: Danish Paper Settles Muhammad Cartoon Issue
Christians aren't that liberal. Most are just doing their thing. The really conservative Christians in this country are the Baptists. They're borderline nuts.
Islam in general is still stuck in 1200 a.d.
Islam in general is still stuck in 1200 a.d.
TexasBlue
Re: Danish Paper Settles Muhammad Cartoon Issue
Well, it's okay for Christians to not to go church every Sunday, pray before a meal, etc.
In Muslim countries, that's a no-no. They are very old fashioned and it's hurting their image greatly.
In Muslim countries, that's a no-no. They are very old fashioned and it's hurting their image greatly.
BubbleBliss
Re: Danish Paper Settles Muhammad Cartoon Issue
Islam has a bad name. They do as Christians did in the biblical days.
TexasBlue
Re: Danish Paper Settles Muhammad Cartoon Issue
Well, a lot of people don't realize that the Middle East is just as cosmopolitan and urban in certain places as any other place in Europe or the US.
A friend of mine has family in Lebanon and he went to a TGI Fridays there. Of course they served hookahs there as well.
A friend of mine has family in Lebanon and he went to a TGI Fridays there. Of course they served hookahs there as well.
BubbleBliss
Re: Danish Paper Settles Muhammad Cartoon Issue
A buddy of mine was stationed in Riyahd, SA. He said it was a beautiful city but that he had never seen such a backwards society. Lebanon can't be used as a standard bearer with the history that they have there. They were pretty modern before 1976.
TexasBlue
Re: Danish Paper Settles Muhammad Cartoon Issue
Yeah, SA is especially backwards due to an extremely conservative Islamic society.
BubbleBliss
Re: Danish Paper Settles Muhammad Cartoon Issue
It's what gets me about people like Cable2. He defends them and their actions and in the same breath will deride Christianity. The funny thing about that is that, as you said, it's extremely conservative. If one is going to be against one style of conservatism (religion in this case), then one has to be straight across the board or you come off looking like an ideological nut case.
TexasBlue
Re: Danish Paper Settles Muhammad Cartoon Issue
True.
Cable also made the mistake of using some very questionable news outlets. Some of the points he raised about Israel are valid but were lost in his babbling...
Cable also made the mistake of using some very questionable news outlets. Some of the points he raised about Israel are valid but were lost in his babbling...
BubbleBliss
Re: Danish Paper Settles Muhammad Cartoon Issue
I'll admit he's right on some Israel issues. But his credibility is shot when he doesn't apply the same logic towards Hamas. Kronosaurus called him out a few weeks ago on that and embarrassed him.
TexasBlue
Re: Danish Paper Settles Muhammad Cartoon Issue
Yeah. War crimes are war crimes, no matter who commits them.
BubbleBliss
Re: Danish Paper Settles Muhammad Cartoon Issue
BubbleBliss wrote:Yeah. War crimes are war crimes, no matter who commits them.
Unless it's us here. Then it's ok.
TexasBlue
Re: Danish Paper Settles Muhammad Cartoon Issue
True. The founder of the UN doesn't need to play by its laws.
Funny thing is that when Woodrow Wilson founded the League of Nations after WWI, he was a huge advocate for it but Congress voted against the US joining it.
Funny thing is that when Woodrow Wilson founded the League of Nations after WWI, he was a huge advocate for it but Congress voted against the US joining it.
BubbleBliss
Re: Danish Paper Settles Muhammad Cartoon Issue
I personally hate the UN. I wish it wasn't on our soil and i wish we weren't a part of it. It's nothing but a debate society. It's 90% useless.
TexasBlue
Re: Danish Paper Settles Muhammad Cartoon Issue
It's definitely a step in the right direction. It keeps a check on countries like Iran, China, Russia, etc.
It is a lot of debate, but it does have the potential to do a lot of good. It just hasn't done it... like I said,once more member states are industrialized, you'll see the UN growing more influential and being able to prevent wars more than they are now.
It is a lot of debate, but it does have the potential to do a lot of good. It just hasn't done it... like I said,once more member states are industrialized, you'll see the UN growing more influential and being able to prevent wars more than they are now.
BubbleBliss
Re: Danish Paper Settles Muhammad Cartoon Issue
PS: If you work for the UN, you don't have to pay any income taxes. A friend of mine works for the UN in Vienna and she doesn't pay any income taxes whatsoever.
BubbleBliss
Re: Danish Paper Settles Muhammad Cartoon Issue
The UN is pretty corrupt. Heck, they had an expose on 60 Minutes a few years back on how ambassadors and their staff are exempt from American laws. They showed some pretty shitty things happening.
TexasBlue
Re: Danish Paper Settles Muhammad Cartoon Issue
Well it's tricky since they're an international organisation... it's kinda like an embassy without a country it represents.
What kinda things happened?
What kinda things happened?
BubbleBliss
Re: Danish Paper Settles Muhammad Cartoon Issue
You know, i can't remember. I'm going to have to go digging for that. Been about 5 years since that was broadcast.
TexasBlue
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum