Denmark in anti-Muslim cartoons

COPENHAGEN – Denmark acted quickly on Monday to quell Muslim indignation at a new series of cartoons ridiculing the Prophet Mohammad and advised its citizens against travelling to the Middle East as Islamic leaders condemned the drawings.

The warning came after a public Danish television station aired amateur video footage showing members of the anti-immigrant Danish People’s Party (DPP) youth wing taking part in a competition to draw images mocking the Prophet at a summer camp in August. The Foreign Ministry issued a strong advisory against travel to the Gaza Strip and cautioned against travel to Israel and the West Bank, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Syria and Turkey.”A militant group in Gaza has made threats against Danes in the Palestinian areas in connection with the (cartoon) matter on October 9,” the Foreign Ministry said.”We urge Danes to use caution as the matter could lead to negative reactions.”Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who was heavily criticised in the Muslim world earlier this year for refusing to apologise for another batch of cartoons lampooning the Prophet, has condemned the behaviour of the DPP activists.The DPP is not a member of the ruling coalition, but supports the government in parliament.Denmark’s second highest foreign ministry official met ambassadors from Muslim countries in Copenhagen on Monday to explain the prime minister’s position.In Tehran, Iran summoned Denmark’s ambassador to complain about the broadcast, while Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said those who insulted the Prophet were “low life” devoid of human values.Lebanon’s top Shi’ite Muslim cleric, Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah, did not blame the Danish government for the latest drawings, but called for unspecified legal action.Nampa-ReutersThe Foreign Ministry issued a strong advisory against travel to the Gaza Strip and cautioned against travel to Israel and the West Bank, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Syria and Turkey.”A militant group in Gaza has made threats against Danes in the Palestinian areas in connection with the (cartoon) matter on October 9,” the Foreign Ministry said.”We urge Danes to use caution as the matter could lead to negative reactions.”Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who was heavily criticised in the Muslim world earlier this year for refusing to apologise for another batch of cartoons lampooning the Prophet, has condemned the behaviour of the DPP activists.The DPP is not a member of the ruling coalition, but supports the government in parliament.Denmark’s second highest foreign ministry official met ambassadors from Muslim countries in Copenhagen on Monday to explain the prime minister’s position.In Tehran, Iran summoned Denmark’s ambassador to complain about the broadcast, while Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said those who insulted the Prophet were “low life” devoid of human values.Lebanon’s top Shi’ite Muslim cleric, Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah, did not blame the Danish government for the latest drawings, but called for unspecified legal action.Nampa-Reuters