The New Nation - Internet Edition

BANGLADESH has condemned the reprinting of a cartoon on Prophet Muhammad (SM) in a number of Danish newspapers saying it could only be 'destabilising'. 'We deeply regret the republication of the Danish cartoons. We condemn it', a foreign ministry spokesman said. It is not understood 'how hurting the sentiments of a billion Muslims can advance the cause of freedom of expression'. 'By reprinting these cartoons we are heading toward a bigger conflict and that shows that both sides will be hostages of their radicals', OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu said reminding it is not a way of … exercising freedoms … insulting the most sacred values and symbols of others and inciting hatred.

Reports from Copenhagen say, at least 17 Danish newspapers including three of the country's biggest dailies, republished one of 12 cartoons which had caused bloody protests and riots lingering across the world after police uncovered an alleged plot in the Scandinavian country to kill the cartoonist. Danish daily Jyllands-Posten, first published the cartoons on the Prophet of Islam in September 2005 that sparked violent protest in the Muslim world continuing till January-February 2006. The Danish newspapers that printed the cartoon on February 13 said they 'did so to take a stand against self-censorship' as reported by the news agency.

This is not the way to improve relations between the East and West, between Islam and Christianity,' Ekmeleddin remarked. Strong protests were lodged also in Iran and Pakistan. Iran showed its anger by summoning the Danish ambassador in Tehran and voicing an official protest while in Pakistan angry protesters burnt Danish flag and effigy of Danish prime minister. In Dhaka also protest rallies were held by different organisations. The reprinting of the cartoon, undoubtedly, was done deliberately by an increasingly intolerant group of people in the West where Islam phobia is gaining ground alarmingly.