Livingstone Leads Thousands in Cartoon Protest

LONDON, February 11, 2006 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – Several thousands of demonstrators converged on Trafalgar Square in central London on Saturday, February 11, joined by London Mayor Ken Livingstone to protest Danish cartoons that mocked Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).

"I am supporting this event because, unlike some of the BBC's coverage, it will allow the views of the mainstream Muslim community to be properly heard," Reuters quoted Livingstone as telling reporters.

He was referring to the British broadcaster’s devoting too much coverage to a rally by a "tiny minority" -- as he put it -- of Muslim hardliners who had taken part in the highly publicized protest at the Danish embassy last week.

Livingstone also criticized the BBC for briefly showing the cartoons on some of its news bulletins.

"There is no excuse for breaking the law and anyone who does so should and will face prosecution, but there is no getting away from the fact that this whole episode has allowed much of Europe 's media to engage in an orgy of Islamophobia," Livingstone said.

The drawings were first published in a Danish newspaper, but have since appeared in a number of other publications in Europe.

The Danish newspaper that first published the cartoons has apologized for offending Muslims, although not for printing the drawings.

“Legitimate Voice”

The London rally’s organizers, including the Muslim Council of Britain and the Muslim Association of Britain, said in a statement the march expresses the "legitimate voice" of the Muslim minority in Britain.

"The first message we want to send to the country is that of the legitimate voice of the Muslim community as opposed to those that hijacked last week's demonstration outside the Danish embassy," the organizers said in a statement carried by Reuters.

Last week, about 400 angry protesters gathered outside the Danish embassy in London carrying placards with slogans such as "Massacre those who insult Islam."

One man was dressed as a suicide bomber and has since been arrested for breaching his prison parole order. He apologized to the British people, especially the families of the 7/7 victims for hurting their feelings.

Appealing to Muslims to remain peaceful, the organizers said: "It may appear to them that there is a great Western conspiracy against their faith, but there are a large number of people who are on the side of reconciliation, and we hope that comes out loud and clear on Saturday."

Muslim scholars from Cairo to Copenhagen have urged Muslims protesting against the Danish cartoons to stop violent rallies and display restraint.

European Rallies

Thousands of people marched peacefully in several European cities Saturday to protest the blasphemous drawings.

In Germany, about 2,000 people marched on the Danish consulate in Duesseldorf, while about 1,200 people protested in Berlin and about 130 in the northern city of Leer.

In France, about 7,000 people demonstrated in Paris and more than 2,200 marched in the eastern city of Strasbourg.

"We want to show by demonstrating peacefully and legally that we have been deeply hurt by the publication of these caricatures," Union of Muslim Associations spokesman Faycal Menia told AFP in Paris.

An estimated 100 took part in Amsterdam in an unauthorized but peaceful demonstration, about 1,000 marched in Berne, in Switzerland, while other protests took place in Ireland, Austria and Belgium.

From Tehran, Cairo, Istanbul and Nairobi to Kuala Lumpur and Islamabad, protesters had taken to the streets after the Friday prayers to protest the cartons.

Norwegian Apology

Meanwhile, the editor of a Norwegian Christian newspaper apologized to Muslims on Friday for publishing the cartoons.

Vebjoern Selbekk, who initially defended his January 10 publication of the cartoons in Magazinet as an expression of press freedom, shook hands after his apology with a Muslim leader in Norway who said he considered the controversy over, Reuters reported.

"I address myself personally to the Muslim community to say that I am sorry that your religious feelings have been hurt," Selbekk told a news conference. "It was never our intent to hurt anyone."

"I, as editor, did not fully understand how hurtful the publication of the facsimile was. I would like to apologies for that today."

He also said he "deeply regretted" upsetting Muslims.

The Islamic Council in Norway welcomed Selbekk's apology and said they would protect him.

"Anyone who touches him, touches us," said Mohammad Hamdan, leader of the council who shook Selbekk's hand after a joint news conference hosted by Norway's Minister of Labour and Social Inclusion Bjarne Haakon Hanssen.

"I understand ... that he has children the same age as mine. I want his children to grow up together, live together in peace, and become friends," Hamdan said.

"Our Prophet Muhammad has said that everyone can make mistakes but the best is the one who expresses regret and asks for forgiveness," he said.

Hanssen praised Selbekk and Hamdan for their accord.

"When these two are building bridges, it creates a basis for reconciliation and a hope that others will do the same."