Muslims protest outside Danish embassy in London over cartoons

Muslims are to protest outside the Danish embassy in London today over the publication of cartoons of the prophet Mohammed which have caused deep offence.The images first appeared in Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten and included images of Mohammed wearing a turban shaped like a bomb, and another showing him saying that paradise was running out of virgins.

Photo: Muslims protest outside Danish embassy in London over cartoons

The cartoons sparked outrage across the Muslim community as Islamic tradition bars any depiction of the prophet to prevent idolatry.The demonstrators will gather at Regent’s Park mosque in central London at 2pm today after Friday prayers and march to the embassy in Sloane Street.

Abu Musa, from the At-Tawheed network, said he expected several hundred Muslims to take part.“At the end of the day, Muslims need to make their opinions known and not keep silent about the matter,” he said.

“The minimum we can do is to raise our voice to highlight the issue – it is not acceptable. We are hurt about what they have done.”

Mr Musa said he was pleased that British newspapers had decided not to publish the cartoons, which he said were deeply offensive.Inayat Bunglawala, from the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), said: “We regard the cartoons as gratuitous. Of course, no one disputes the freedom of speech in Europe.

“Newspapers and broadcasters have the right to publish these offensive cartoons. The question is clearly whether they are exercising good judgment if they do so. They know the deep hurt that will be felt by Muslims.

“Editors know that the prophet is regarded with love and respect – to caricature him as a terrorist and describe him as daft and dumb, they know the deep sense of anger it will cause.”

Mr Bunglawala said the offensive message would only serve to push vulnerable Muslims towards extremist factions.“The extremists will say to vulnerable Muslims that Europe hates you, hates Islam and hates the prophet.

“There is already a lot of tension between the Muslim world and Europe due to the war in Iraq and the current threat against Iran. It all comes at a very difficult time,” reports Ireland Online.

I.L.