Islamic Cartoons Apology
I would like to offer a public apology to all who were offended by a series of cartoons, which depicted the Prophet Mohammed in a degrading manner. Not only were the cartoons offensive, they further contributed towards fuelling the maligning of a religion. In any civilised society this is clearly unacceptable.I must also apologise, unreservedly, to those who have become victims as a consequence of the outrage expressed over the cartoon’s publication. It should now be abundantly clear that the perception of ‘freedom of expression’ does, in fact, have limitations when an expression serves no other purpose than to cause ridicule, hurt, or insult to others.
I realise that these actions have caused pain and suffering for many who have worked so hard to dispel the misunderstandings and misrepresentations of the Islamic faith. The creation and dissemination of these cartoons only led to further promote Islamophobia and widen the rift between the world’s great faiths.
From this regrettable incident, I hope that we can find ways to achieve a peaceful and respectful co-existence through discussion and education. And that we may continue to build relationships that will serve as an example to our children, and generations to come, that their forefathers worked to bring the world together, rather than create schism.
I am profoundly remorseful for these untenable events and hope this apology will be accepted in the spirit and sincerity in which it has been offered.
And finally on behalf of everyone, I'm sorry that I’m constantly apologising for things in such a passive-aggressive manner, which is actually a thinly veiled criticism. I sincerely hope that you're not upset over this as well.
posted by Father Bill Haymaker @ 11:51
7 comments
7 Comments:
Father Bill, someone could take this the wrong way and I'm afraid you might catch some heat from it. And besides, who are you to apologise for these people? The mess the world is in is because of those people. Maybe they need to have a dose of reality!
Maybe if enough of us spread messages like this peace will start to reign. If someone makes offensive images of Christ I am offended. But where I live no one seems to care about things like that. Its our society collapsing. You said a good thing. Have you sent it to the newspaper in Denmark?
Launa Jemmison
I'm afraid that too many things are happening beyond our control now. There is a momentum that is gathering where people are going to lash out over their anger. And as usual we (the west) will be appalled and angered and will demand that whoever has lashed out must be brought to 'justice.' Maybe we need to find ways to sit down and find solutions rather than creating even more barriers. And maybe the first step is for the Danish paper to issue an apology!
Thank you for your comments. I think it’s important for anyone who finds this blog and is not aware, the editor and chief of the newspaper did, in fact, issue an apology. The following is their published explanation and apology:
- - -
Honourable Fellow Citizens of the Muslim World
Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten is a strong proponent of democracy and freedom of religion. The newspaper respects the right of any human being to practise his or her religion. Serious misunderstandings in respect of some drawings of the Prophet Mohammed have led to much anger and lately also boycott of Danish goods in Muslim countries.
Please allow me to correct these misunderstandings. On 30 September last year, Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten published 12 different cartoonists' idea of what the Prophet Mohammed might have looked like. The initiative was taken as part of an ongoing public debate on freedom of _expression, a freedom much cherished in Denmark.
In our opinion, the 12 drawings were sober. They were not intended to be offensive, nor were they at variance with Danish law, but they have indisputably offended many Muslims for which we apologize.
Since then a number of offensive drawings have circulated in The Middle East which have never been published in Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten and which we would never have published, had they been offered to us. We would have refused to publish them on the grounds that they violated our ethical code.
Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten attaches importance to upholding the highest ethical standards based upon the respect of our fundamental values. It is so much more deplorable, therefore, that these drawings were presented as if they had anything to do with Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten.
Maybe because of culturally based misunderstandings, the initiative to publish the 12 drawings has been interpreted as a campaign against Muslims in Denmark and the rest of the world.
I must categorically dismiss such an interpretation. Because of the very fact that we are strong proponents of the freedom of religion and because we respect the right of any human being to practise his or her religion, offending anybody on the grounds of their religious beliefs is unthinkable to us.
That this happened was, consequently, unintentional.
As a result of the debate that has been going on about the drawings, we have met with representatives of Danish Muslims, and these meetings were held in a positive and constructive spirit. We have also sought in other ways to initiate a fruitful dialogue with Danish Muslims.
It is the wish of Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten that various ethnic groups should live in peace and harmony with each other and that the debates and disagreements which will always exist in a dynamic society should do so in an atmosphere of mutual respect.
For that reason, Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten has published many articles describing the positive aspects of integration, for example in a special supplement entitled The Contributors. It portrayed a number of Muslims who have had success in Denmark. The supplement was rewarded by the EU Commission.
Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten takes exception to symbolic acts suited to demonise specific nationalities, religions and ethnic groups.
Sincerely yours
Carsten Juste
Editor-in-Chief
- - -end- - -
Well, thank you, Mr Juste, I'm sure your decision to apologise will have a profound impact on all those who will never see your apology. There's an old saying: 'fire spreads fast.' And I'm afraid, your paper has set an already tender environment ablaze.
Hindsight is wonderful for all of us. But for anyone else who is so insensitive or callus, please, have a look at all the innocent people who have already suffered as a result of Mr Juste's actions.
I'm certain that Mr Juste will not be issuing apologies to the children who lose parents as a result of the backlash, or apologising to all of his fellow citizens and businesses that will suffer as a result of his exercise in democracy.
I'm proud to live in a democratic country where our right to exercise free speech is sacrosanct. But with that freedom comes accountability.
+Fr. Bill
Well, sadly, you could have almost taken bets on it. The news is reporting that a Muslim cleric in the town of Peshawar Pakistan has issued a ‘fatwa,’ which is a religious ruling or ‘order,’ for the assassination of the Danish cartoonist who created the offending images depicting the Prophet Mohammed. According to the wireless the offer includes up to USD$25,000, a new car and additional funds from a number of local business leaders.
The gentleman who announced the issuance of the fatwa is Mohammed Yousef Qureshi, a local prayer leader (which would be similar to a ‘reader’ in an Anglican environment). In speaking to a crowd of approximately one thousand, outside the Mohabat Kahn Mosque, Mr Qureshi reportedly said the fatwa came as an ‘unanimous decision by all Imams (similar to a Bishop in ‘Anglicanism), that whoever insults the Prophet deserves to be killed and whoever will take this insulting man to his end will receive this reward.’
But there has been a swift reaction from Muslim leaders around the world, rejecting this man’s statement. I only hope the western press will be responsible enough to see this for what it is and not add fuel to the fire.
I spoke with my friend, Imam Mohammed Sallah Al Maskery by phone today. He too is deeply saddened by the continuing events over the publications of the cartoons. Mohammed confirmed that he knew of no fatwa having been issued and in fact, reminded me that the editor of the Danish paper had made an act of contrition in apologising for the events. Mohammed told me that if this person did say these things, he has misrepresented the teachings of the Qur’an and is no less responsible for the continued misrepresentations of the Islamic faith.
Mohammed and I spoke for about a half-hour. He said that in some of the more distant reaches of the world, where access to a balanced media can be difficult, radio broadcasters and newspapers are, unfortunately, offering a slanted reporting of the events. As a result, people from small villages and outlying communities are becoming caught up in the wave of rage, but are unable to hear of the apologies, nor are able to hear a balanced and objective opinion on the matter. Mohammed made a good point. He said that it was just like having an infection race through a community that has close contact. He said that once you start working for a cure, you must start with the first person and it takes a long time before the medicine reaches everyone. I was shocked to hear that apparently, there are even more cartoons that are circulating on the internet, that have recently been made by individuals wishing to inflict further insults. Mohammed offered to send them to me, but I declined. But he said most people are able to find them quite easily now.
I’ve chosen to add this note to the comments section as it appropriately follows the same subject matter.
All of this has reminded me of an experience I had as a young teenager when I attended a small community church with a lady whose family cared for our horses during the winter months. I will make a mental note to share that story in the new week.
Let us pray that the world will turn a deaf ear to ignorant and regressive voices that are trying to create conflict and look instead to those working for peace and understanding.
+Fr BIll
Doesn't this remind you of the Ku Klux Klan? They twist passages from the Bible to say what they want and then use it to justify their stupid antics.
So is an Imam kind of like a priest for Muslims? I'm sorry I don't know, but I'm curious.
There is an element of naivity here
Whilst you may have a good relationship with an Imam whom I presume is Sufi, it should be made clear to you that his world view of Islam is totally different to that of Wahabbi or Shiite.You will NEVER be at peace with them.
Info : the cartoons were printed in Denmark last September and they are rather tame; indeed quite accurate in expressing the present day nature of things.
Did you object in the past to other cartoons denigrating Jews or their leaders and prophets? I suspect no.
Did you object to the musical JC Superstar? Again no.
To continue these cartoons were reprinted in an Egyptian newspaper in December w/out any repercussions against the paper or the people of Denmark.
All of a sudden there are more Danish flags in arab /muslim places than there are in Denmark!!
Their whole response was orchestrated!!!
Also I must ask where is the muslim response to the nature of their animal behaviour; does one have to express anger by killing others especially brother muslims?
Why are the muslims of Europe not demonstrating against the killings in Iraq? This is a far more serious issue!
All the muslims have done TG is to reinforce the truth told by these cartoons for the whole world to see.
The truth is that we are all in the middle of a war which democracy must win.
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