Indonesian Muslim party plans large protest over cartoons near Danish embassy

Thousands of Muslim protesters were scheduled to march on the Danish Embassy in Indonesia on Monday to protest drawings of the Prophet Muhammad that have ignited Islamic anger around the world.

Photo: Indonesian Muslim party plans large protest over cartoons near Danish embassy

"We will condemn the publications of the cartoons," said Dedi Supriyadi, from the Justice and Prosperity Party, the Islamist political party organizing the protest. "Governments everywhere, including Denmark, have the responsibility to create harmony in society."

He said between 2,000 and 5,000 people would attend the march, which he insisted would be peaceful. The party, which campaigns for an Islamic state in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, has a history of staging well-organized protests that have never ended in violence.

The 12 cartoon first appeared in a Danish newspaper in September, but have since been reprinted in papers around the world. One of the drawings shows Muhammad wearing a turban shaped as a bomb. Another portrays him holding a sword, his eyes covered by a black rectangle.

Muslims were angered because Islam prohibits any depiction of the prophet to prevent idolatry. They have also been upset by the insinuation that Muhammad was a terrorist, reports the AP.

I.L.