Danish Muslims split over cartoons

Danish Muslims split over cartoons
By Thomas Buch-Andersen
Copenhagen, Denmark
Many moderate Muslims in Denmark have
been shocked by the violence and deaths a
round the world prompted by the row over
Danish cartoons satirising the
Prophet Muhammad.
Rabih Azad-Ahmad, chair of the Multicultural
Association, said the row had become too
confrontational.
"Now, we have to demonstrate that we are
proud of being Danish and that we are
supporting Danish values," he said.
In an unexpected turn, the reaction to the
attacks on Danish embassies could help
promote integration in Denmark.
"I didn't know there were so many Muslims
in Denmark who are supporting Western
values," said Soren Espersen, an MP for
the populist Danish People's Party.
Politicians and the media have a tendency
to see Muslims only as criminal, anti-social
elements and as potential rapists Open letter
by Danish writers
His comments mark a turnaround for the party,
which has grown to be the country's third
largest on a political platform of nationalism
and xenophobia.
They are also likely to have been welcomed
by a group of Danish writers who warned two
months ago that the harsh tone in the national
debate about Muslims and integration was
comparable to Nazi rhetoric against Jews.
"Politicians and the media have a tendency
to see Muslims only as criminal, anti-social
elements and as potential rapists," the
writers said in an open letter.
Wake-up call?
However, some of the strongest protests
against the cartoons have come from imams
who are part of the government's integration
think tank.
"We want the newspaper to promise that this
will never happen again, or this will never stop,"
said imam Ahmad Akkari of the Islamic Faith
Society.
IS THIS A THREAT?
For the Danish integration minister,
Rikke Hvilshoj, that stance is a wake-up call.
"It is very clear that we cannot trust the imams
any longer if we want integration to succeed
in Denmark," Mrs Hvilshoj says.
The conflict is also politically explosive for
Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
The international crisis is his first big test after
more than four years in office.
Former spin doctor and political commentator
Peter Mogensen warned that if the violence
does not stop soon, Mr Rasmussen could lose
his job.
"The prospects of further escalation, of terrorist
attack against Danish property and beheadings
of Danes on al-Jazeera would make the current
situation look like a picnic," Mr Mogensen said.
The opposition has also accused the
prime minister is acting too late.
No more apologies
Nonetheless, Mr Rasmussen's government and
its diplomats are working around the clock to
control the damage.
Fifteen Muslim countries, from Algeria to
Pakistan, are boycotting Danish goods.
So far, nearly 200 jobs have been lost in Denmark.
More jobs could be on the line if the boycotts
continue, as Denmark's exports to the Arab
world are worth almost $2.6 billion (£1.5 billion)
a year.
While most Danish Muslims are satisfied by
the apology already issued by Jyllands-Posten,
the newspaper that first published the cartoons,
half of Danes still think that the paper could
do more to appease the Arab world.
Editor-in-chief Carsten Juste remains firm.
"We are sorry for any offence caused by the
drawings, but we cannot apologise for
freedom of expression," he said.
Since 2003, Denmark has supported a broad
range of democratic projects and initiatives
across the Arab world.
It is unclear how many of those countries will
care to listen any longer.
So far, all trips by Danish staff connected to these
projects have been put on hold.
For many Danes the past two weeks have been
surreal.
Since the time when many Danes helped
thousands of Jews to safety from
German-occupied Denmark in World War II,
the Scandinavian country has had a reputation
for being peace-loving and harmless.
That might still be true.
But the perception among millions of Muslims
has changed.
And that will take years to bring back to balance.

TURMOIL FOLLOWS MOST OF THEM!
WHY IS THAT?
LINK:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4692318.stm