VOA News Wednesday, September 29th, 2010
The Danish editor whose 2005 publication of cartoons poking fun at the Prophet Muhammad enraged Muslims around the world has reprinted the sketches in a new book.
Editor Flemming Rose’s book Tyranny of Silence, was released Wednesday.
Danish Foreign Minster Lene Espersen on Wednesday met with 17 ambassadors from Muslim countries to try and head off any new confrontations.
Ms. Espersen told the Danish parliament Wednesday that her key message to the diplomats was the importance of freedom of speech in Denmark.
Rose defended the original decision to publish the cartoons in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Postens as a way of using religious satire to spark debate on freedom of expression.
He said the cartoons were not an incitation to violence.
Most Muslims consider depictions of the Prophet Muhammad offensive. The 2005 cartoon controversy led to deadly riots in Muslim communities around the world.
REST OPTIONAL
Rose and cartoonist Kurt Westergaard who worked on the drawings, have been living under police protection following threats and attacks.
Ms. Espersen said she also had spoken earlier with the head of the Organization of Islamic Conference countries, the Secretary General of the Arab League as well as foreign ministers from the Middle East and North Africa.
Some information in this story was provided by AFP and Reuters.
Stumble It!
