Jylland-Posten's apology (continued)

Last week, after Saudi Arabia stepped up its diplomatic fight against Denmark and started boycotting Danish products, Jylland-Posten, the newspaper that started it all off published an apology in both Danish and Arabic. This apology still opens up their main page.

Jylland-Posten has now posted an English version of their public apology/explanation to the Muslim world. Unlike their Danish and Arabic versions (translations available below), this one addresses all Muslims and not only Saudi Arabians and goes into a more lengthy explanation of the entire story as well as pointing out the positive contributions Jylland-Posten has made on the integration issue. This apology also addresses seriously offensive drawings that have been circulating around and being attributed to the Danes.

Honourable 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


The Brussels Journal site has posted an English translation of the original Danish version of Jylland-Posten's apology to the Muslims. I attach it here below.

Honored citizens of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,

Allow me this opportunity to correct a few misunderstandings regarding the cartoons of the prophet Muhammad, which have now led to a boycott of Danish products in your country.

The cartoons were published four months ago as a contribution to a Danish debate on freedom of expression – a right to which we attach great importance in Denmark.

The initiative has been interpreted as a campaign against Muslims in Denmark and the whole world. This I strongly dismiss. It was not our intention to offend anyone for their religion. That it has nevertheless happened was also not intentional. We have regretted that many times during the past months. Both in our own newspaper, other newspapers, on TV, radio and in the international media. At the same time we have had meetings with representatives of the Muslim community in Denmark. Those meetings have taken place in a positive and constructive spirit and at another meeting we intend to establish an effective dialogue with the Danish Muslims.

We regret that this affair has assumed such proportions and therefore it must be repeated that we did not intend to offend anyone and that, like the whole Danish community, we highly respect freedom of religion.

With kind regards,
Carsten Juste
Editor-in-chief

I have posted a translation of their Arabic apology, which seems to be a rather straightforward translation of their Danish one.

Source: Jylland-Posten (English), Brussels Journal (English)

27 comments:

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Anonymous said...

doing something and then apologizing is not fair..humans are created with thinking capacity...the danish media shud think twice or more wen dealing with such a delicate subject.i read in this it was a some cartoonist idea of prophet.. it is to be noted that portrait of living object is prohibitted in islam..its for this reason they dont have a single pcture of their beloved prophet.no depiction of anyone is allowed.how how cud u publish this? and many of the danish experts had arned the publishers before it was posted. then why did they publish it????those warnings are more enough for a anyone to think the afermath of such a sensitive matter. disregarding those experts and now apologizing??shame on u people..they warned u ,it will hurt the feelings of muslims.. and u say u didnt do it intentionally?why did u post it in your news paper then??seeking apology for such an act is unbelievable..

Anonymous said...

i was wondering...whole muslim world rose against danes..thats their 'freedom of expression'..but these christians who mocks n claims islam to be false,they dont ave any problem in mocking jesus? jesus's n mary's picture were also there.and they didnt utter a single word? then wat faith they have? each and every christian shud be ashamed to say that they are 'christians'.they have lost their reacting power under so called "freedom of expression". wat muslims did is absolutely right ,i think. they have the right to protect their faith n religion.they have the right to keep their prophet's name and dignity in a high standard and are doing it..unlike christians..go muslims go...may your God help you in your deeds!!!

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Esther said...

Hi anonymous,

If you're attempting to pretend you're Christian, it's not working.

Your entire behavior proves the opposite of what you say, so next time, try to think a little before acting.

Esther

Anonymous said...

dear anonymous, why you disgrace Jesus son of Maryam(Alaihissalam)? There is no place for you among muslim!

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Post American said...

Now, who benefits of Christians and Muslims kill each other off?

And LOOKATTHATSHINYBOMBINIRAN!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Comment Deleted=Free Speech?

Esther said...

Recently my blog has been polluted with obscenities, becoming more and more obscene with each additional comment. I have decided, after much contemplation, to remove them all. I will not allow such language on my blog and I will not tolerate messages that include little else besides 4 letter words and other curses and obscenities.

I support free speech for the most radical ideas, on condition that they be thought out and expressed respectably.

I invite the general public to participate in the issues I bring up and I expect all cultured participants to contribute their intelligent input for the benefit of all readers. I have great respect for my readers and they do not deserve to have they eyes polluted by gutter talk.

Anonymous said...

Assalamu Alaikum,as you all know, we as Muslims we all respect othe realigions and other people's belief. But going to mock or insult the intellectuallity of a particular religion is not allowed islamically. What jylland-posten did was absolutely wrong and all Muslims world wide deserve an apology.

Esther said...

Hi dmalan,

Jyllands-Posten is apologizing. I emphasized that in the title of this post.

Part of the religion of western culture is freedom of speech. That should be respected as much as other religions.

Anonymous said...

DEAR ESTHER ...

I UNDERSTAND THE MEANING OF YOUR REACTION..BUT BETTER UNDERSTAND THAT IM A STUDENT DOING RESEARCH IN ISLAM N KORAN.N ITS TRUE THAT I HAVE A SOFT CORNER TOWARDS IT..THE MORE I GET INTO IT THE MORE I FEELS ITS TRUTH..N I DONT HAVE TO PRETEND..I DIDNT KNOW HOW I DISGRACED JESUS???I JUST SAID HOW THE WHOLE CHRISTIANS STAY QUIET ON SUCH A WORSE THING N I DIDNT MEAN TO HURT ANYONE..
IT IS TRUE FREEDOM OF SPEECH SHUD BE RESPECTED AS MUCH AS OTHER RELIGIONS PROVIDED THEY DONT HURT OTHER'S FEELINGS..

THANK YOU...

Esther said...

Hi Anonymous,

I don't know if you're the one whose comments I deleted. Of course there's freedom of speech. I don't mind if other people trash their own logs with gutter talk. I just won't go and read it.

My readers deserve more than to be assaulted by such language. It is your right to think differently and to exercise that right in your own language and communication. It is my right not to listen to you and not to enable you to trash my blog. That's freedom of speech.

Going on to the issue at hand. IF Muslims don't want to look at those cartoons, it's their right. If they don't want to publish them, that's their right too. It is not their right to force others not to look and publish them. I hope you see the difference.

In my opinion, rioting and burning in the name of Islam is degrading and insulting to Islam, far more than any original implied or intended insult.

Anonymous said...

hi esther...

im not the one whose comments you deleted.. even im in tha opinion that readers deserve more than being assaulted by such language..
such languages really shows their character...n im not one like that n i dont want to. looking forward to ur reply..

thanks..

Anonymous said...

HI

Anonymous said...

Please see what Muslims are doing.
In Saudi, they treat everyone other than Muslims differently. Even the compensation is different. Kafirs are less valued on earth.

I was thinking that Islam is a peaceful, noble religion, but with more and more press coverage, I don't think so.

For Muslims everything starts and ends with Islam/Quran. They don't even sympathize with other faiths in their own country! They comeout and say they are hurt. I don't want to say anything about the cartoons, but please don't do to others the stuff that you don't want to have.

At the end of the day, I will tell in any debate that Islam is not a 'good' religion.

Regards

Anonymous said...

This shows the difference towards the sacred things between Europe and İslamic World not Arabicised İslamic World. I have just seen the cartoons if I have seen them before as a muslim Turk my response would have been much more swift and harmful within the frame of law. Now it has already past for the dead line of 90 days to take this to the court. After that what for you have been in such an anger I can not understand this. This is the face of Arabic world. In the İslamic World sacred things are never to be violated at any time. And do not point the Al-Kaida's demolition of the Hindu temple carved in a mountain. This has nothing to do with the view of Islam. As a Turk I have never been against to the religious ideas of others let alone the sacred things of others. We the Turks are raised in this way and the sacreds of others also are sacred for us. That is why we never say some one did something so we have the right to do the same. This is a shamefull idiocy that made by the Jylland Post and the Cartoonists, namely Kurt Westergaard and Sorensen. This is the shame and has nothing to do with the freedom of expression and publication. No, No!! Your freedom can not violate my rights, my freedom and my sacreds!! Your freedom has a border at my freedom. So such idiocies can not be attributed as freedom. If it is so, then you the western world are all together wellcoming the war of civilisations and cultures by making the claims of Huntington true.
Please take this seriously.
Regards,
Dr.Osman ÇATALOLUK
Gaziantep Universitesi
Tıp Fakültesi
Tıbbi Biyoloji AD.
27310, Kampus, Gaziantep

Anonymous said...

I am flabbergasted at the lack of knowledge by some of these people. I am also flabbergasted at the lack of knowledge of some Muslims of their own Quran. Surely when they read the last three quarters of the Quran, they must wonder if indeed it is a good religion, and why they are Muslims. It is a reason of fear, hatred, and destruction.
Throughout the world Islam is torturing and slaughtering thousands of people from other religions every year, do they think we are so stupid that we don't read our papers..and they say that they are tolerant of other religions, NOT SO. Even Mohammad in many verses said to slaughter those who would not submit, that is not tolerance. What religion was it who went in and slaughtered and took the lands of the Jews, (Islam) and who skited about taking the Jewish villages, the people for slaves, of those who went slaughtered, and plundered their possessions, (Mohammad)... and out of 22 conflicts in the world today, why is 20 of them Muslims and someone else, who is it who doesn't seem to be able to get along with any of their neighbours even their own Muslim neighbours, (Muslims). Doesn't it seem strange to Muslims that no other religion is terrorising and slaughtering the people like Muslims are today. It takes more than a few terrorists to slaughter tens of thousands of people every year as is happening by Muslims. And which religion is it who goes in and destroys and desecrates the religious icons of other religions???, and which middle eastern religion tells its people to not be friends with non believers...and to have nothing to do with their celebrations. And why does the Quran say that the blacks people are evil.