By David R. Sands
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Published February 16, 2006
A drive by a bloc of Islamic nations for a global ban on "defamation of
religions and prophets" has thrown a major kink into U.S. hopes for an overhaul
of the leading U.N. human rights body.
The proposal by the 57-nation Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC),
floated last week amid violent protests over the publication in Europe of
cartoons mocking the prophet Muhammad, came as U.N. delegates were trying to
negotiate the charter for a new Human Rights Council.
"It's a giant monkey wrench in the process, and that is what it was designed
to be," said Hillel C. Neuer, executive director of the Geneva-based United
Nations Watch, a watchdog group that has closely followed the talks.
"To include this in the charter, just as an appeasement to violence, would
taint the body before it even began," he said.
The Bush administration has made reform of the discredited U.N. Human Rights
Commission a top priority, demanding tighter membership rules and new powers to
target individual governments.
A number of leading human rights organizations say the current U.N. body has
become a captive of the worst violators, who secure a seat on the commission
just to block action against them.
Swedish diplomat Jan Eliasson, president of the U.N. General Assembly, has
been huddling with the major players since a draft charter text was circulated
Feb. 1. Backers had hoped to have a deal before the next meeting of the current
commission, set for mid-March in Geneva.
The OIC-proposed amendment states that "defamation of religions and prophets
is inconsistent with the right to freedom of expression" and that governments
and the press have a "responsibility in promoting tolerance and respect for
religious and cultural values."
Private human rights groups say the most problematic part of the amendment
is a call for the new U.N. council to "prevent instances of intolerance,
discrimination, incitement of hatred and violence arising from any actions
against religions, prophets and beliefs which threaten the enjoyment of human
rights and fundamental freedoms."
Jennifer L. Windsor, executive director of the human rights group Freedom
Watch, said the OIC effort was one of a number of attempts by nations and blocs
at the United Nations to "dumb down the human rights standards."
Freedom Watch has opposed anti-blasphemy laws both in Europe and the Islamic
world as an infringement on free speech, she said. "It is never a good idea to
protect one human right by repressing another."
Mr. Neuer said the OIC proposal, as worded, would apply equally to
anti-Semitic and anti-Christian articles and images that are carried by many
Arab and Middle East news organizations, including many in state-controlled
outlets.
"That just underscores the lack of good faith in what's going on," he said.
With talks at a critical juncture, U.S. officials have taken a guarded
approach to the OIC idea.
"We've seen the language, and we are considering what to do," U.N.
Ambassador John R. Bolton told reporters last week.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said at a Senate hearing yesterday that
the Bush administration was insisting on real changes for the U.N. human rights
body, including blackballing from membership any state under sanctions for
terrorism or human rights abuses.
"This seems to us a rather self-evident matter, but it isn't a terribly
popular position, it turns out," she said.
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan told reporters in New York last week he
thought the OIC amendments were offered in good faith.
The Islamic bloc proposal "is not inflammatory," Mr. Annan said. "I don't
think it is something that goes counter to the spirit of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, or even freedom of the press."
But T. Kumar, a human rights specialist with the Washington office of
Amnesty International, said introducing such potentially far-reaching language
so late in the process makes an agreement harder to reach.
"It would have been better for everyone if they had introduced this back in
September when the first cartoons came out," he said.
Annan, Ihsanoglu, and Solana in a joint declaration will
emphasize the cartoons that insult the beliefs of Muslims cannot be assessed
within the limits of freedom of _expression
The OIC continues its works to overcome the tension. Ihsanoglu
called for an emergency ambassadors meeting on February 14. At the three-party
meeting, a decision for an emergency meeting of foreign ministers will also be
concluded. There has been no written demand so far, but Iranian Foreign Minister
Manucher Mouttaqi conveyed the suggestion to Ihsanoglu a couple days ago. Ankara
on the other hand does not like the idea of an extraordinary gathering at this
stage.
Ambassadors of OIC member countries will also come together
with the ambassadors to the UN today in New York and will work on the
initiatives in the frame of the UN. Islamic countries ambassadors will determine
the status of the prospective Human Rights Council and will ask for the
insertion of a paragraph on "combating discrimination against Islam" into the
Council's by-law. The UN will also be reminded of the decision to remove every
kind of discrimination and intolerance reached on 16 December 2005 at the UN
General Assembly.
“We agreed to take different measures including at the level of the UN to
guarantee these acts will not be repeated,” OIC Secretary General Ekmelettin
Ihsanoglu told a press conference with Solana. – Reuters
CAIRO, Feb. 14 (UPI) -- The European Union is debating ideas and measures
that might be endorsed by the United Nations to bar the slandering of
religions.
EU foreign policy and security commissioner Javier Solana said after a
meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak Tuesday the EU and the
Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) "are considering certain ideas to
safeguard and protect religious values in general, but the time is not
appropriate to disclose the details."
Solana issued a joint statement Monday with the chief of the Jeddah-based OIC
Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu stressing their bid to push for measures at U.N. level to
bar tarnishing the reputation of religions following the uproar sparked in the
Muslim world by the cartoons depicting Prophet Mohammed as a terrorist with a
bomb in his turban.
OIC has called on the European Union to introduce laws barring the defamation
of religions.
Solana refrained from commenting on the OIC request saying "we should not let
the latest developments and events to influence relations between Arabs and
Europe, but we need to boost these relations through joint action for
surmounting and settling certain problems."
He also called for observing mutual respect between Arab and Muslim countries
and the EU.
EU officials have played down the possibility of introducing laws barring
slandering of religions, fearing public opinion uproar over undermining the
principles of freedom of thought and expression.
Protests, sparked by the cartoons carried in the Danish and Norwegian media,
swept the Arab and Muslim world and angry demonstrators burned the embassies of
Denmark and Norway in Damascus and Beirut.
President Mubarak called for taking strict measures to avert offending
religions and said Egypt is leading a campaign against Denmark for refusing to
make an official apology.
In the meantime, Muslim clerics have called for boycotts of products from
countries that published the offending cartoons.
UN chief joins with European and Islamic
officials to urge calm on cartoon dispute
7 February 2006 – Responding to an
increasing number of violent attacks in many parts of the world over cartoon
caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed, the Secretary-General of the United Nations
joined today with senior officials from the Islamic world and Europe in calling
for calm and dialogue among communities of different faiths.
In a joint
statement, Kofi Annan, along with the head of the Organization of the
Islamic Conference (OIC) and the European Union’s (EU) senior representative for
foreign and security policy, said there should be a “spirit of friendship and
mutual respect” not only between countries but also between believers of
different religions.
“We are deeply alarmed at the repercussions of the publication in Denmark
several months ago of insulting caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed and their
subsequent republication by some other European newspapers and at the violent
acts that have occurred in reaction to them,” said the statement, which was
endorsed by Mr. Annan and Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu of the OIC and Javier Solana of
the EU.
“We fully uphold the right of free speech. But we understand the deep hurt
and widespread indignation felt in the Muslim World. We believe freedom of the
press entails responsibility and discretion, and should respect the beliefs and
tenets of all religions.”
The three signatories to the statement went on to say that the “anguish of
the Muslim World” was shared by all individuals and communities who recognize
the sensitivity of deeply held religious belief, but called for an immediate end
to the violence.
“In particular, we strongly condemn the deplorable attacks on diplomatic
missions that have occurred in Damascus, Beirut and elsewhere. Aggression
against life and property can only damage the image of a peaceful Islam. We call
on the authorities of all countries to protect all diplomatic premises and
foreign citizens against unlawful attack.”
Today’s joint statement on the cartoons is the latest move by the
Secretary-General to try and defuse the explosive situation that has led to
protests and concerns in many parts of the world.
In a separate news release, also issued today, the United Nations mission in
Afghanistan (UNAMA) urged “all parties to avoid acts and statements that might
further inflame the current situation.”
“Respect for Afghanistan’s pluralistic culture, values and history, based on
Islam, is a fundamental principle of the work of the international community in
Afghanistan,” UNAMA added.
Joint un, European Union, Islamic conference statement shares ‘anguish’
of muslim world at mohammed caricatures, but condemns violent response
Department of Public Information • News and Media Division • New York
www.un.org
Following is the text of a
joint statement issued today by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan; the
Secretary-General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Ekmeleddin
Ihsanoglu; and the High Representative for Common Foreign and Security
Policy of the European Union, Javier Solana:
We are deeply alarmed at the
repercussions of the publication in Denmark several months ago of insulting
caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed and their subsequent republication by
some other European newspapers and at the violent acts that have occurred in
reaction to them
The anguish in the Muslim
world at the publication of these offensive caricatures is shared by all
individuals and communities who recognize the sensitivity of deeply held
religious belief. In all societies there is a need to show sensitivity and
responsibility in treating issues of special significance for the adherents
of any particular faith, even by those who do not share the belief in
question.
We fully uphold the right of
free speech. But we understand the deep hurt and widespread indignation
felt in the Muslim world. We believe freedom of the press entails
responsibility and discretion, and should respect the beliefs and tenets of
all religions.
But we also believe the
recent violent acts surpass the limits of peaceful protest. In particular,
we strongly condemn the deplorable attacks on diplomatic missions that have
occurred in Damascus, Beirut and elsewhere. Aggression against life and
property can only damage the image of a peaceful Islam. We call on the
authorities of all countries to protect all diplomatic premises and foreign
citizens against unlawful attack.
These events make the need
for renewed dialogue, among and between communities of different faiths and
authorities of different countries, all the more urgent. We call on them to
appeal for restraint and calm, in the spirit of friendship and mutual
respect.
Kofi A. Annan
Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu
Javier Solana
Turkish PM sends letter to world leaders to ease cartoon
crisis (full text)
Dear Colleague,
In the face of recent developments instigated by the publication of a series of
caricatures depicting Prophet Mohammed, I felt it necessary to write to you this
letter and share with you my views in the hope of preventing the present
situation from escalating to a point where it could further threaten
international peace and stability. These unfortunate events have created tension
almost bounding to a polarization between the East and the West, and between the
Islamic and Christian worlds as never seen before in recent times. For the sake
of global peace and safeguarding of our commonly held values, I believe it has
now become essential that the statesmen and politicians act with wisdom and
common sense and display leadership in taking the joint actions expected from
them.
Firstly, we all should try to understand the underlying reasons behind the
latest incidents. Muslims, as a rule, pay due respect to all prophets. Despite
their deep respect for Prophet Mohammed and their strong belief in the Islamic
teachings, they would listen to all well-meaning criticisms. They cannot,
however, be expected to tolerate so-called criticisms which evidently transgress
the boundaries of genuine criticism and which are, in fact, outright insults and
degradation of Prophet Mohammed.
We have observed that certain parts of the media saw this whole series of
unfortunate events as a test-case for freedom of expression. We have also
observed an inclination to make use of the situation to probe the patience of
the Islamic world and their conceptualization of freedom. Such cultural
arrogance on the part of any culture or civilization cannot be justified. No
culture has a given right to insult the sensitivities of other cultures. The
minimum prerequisite of harmonious coexistence is that different civilizations
and traditions recognize and mutually respect each others’ cultural differences
that are perfectly in keeping with the commonly shared values on which our
modern democratic experience is founded. This is also a requirement of the
modern pluralist approach that understands the need to preserve and respect
differences as enriching elements instead of abandoning them to be exploited to
create enmity and hatred.
We have been strongly advocating that unless we replace the thesis of the “Clash
of Civilizations” and the culture of violence and confrontation with an
“Alliance of Civilizations”, conflicts will continue to rise. The recent events
have unfortunately vindicated us.
Freedom of press and expression of this freedom through all available channels
is an indispensable element of democracy. However, this freedom should be
applied with a sense of moral responsibility. There is no freedom on earth that
can be used to degrade and insult beliefs, values and sacred symbols. We need to
reflect on such fundamentally sensitive issues.
On the other hand, those who resort to violence in their dismay, and those who
incite or provoke violence actually undermine their own cause and forfeit their
righteousness. Islam is the religion of peace and calls for the protection of
the life, property and dignity of everyone living in Islamic countries. Defense
of Islam and the Muslims cannot be achieved by methods which run counter, in the
first place, to the teachings of Islam.
Turkey supports all genuine efforts geared for enriched dialogue, reconciliation
and integration. Our ultimate goal is to bring our own unique contributions to
the humankind’s ideal of achieving “unity in diversity”. The Alliance of
Civilizations initiative and our determined steps to become a full-member of the
European Union all aim to the fulfillment of this noble ideal.
I strongly believe that civilizations hold common values, norms and principles
that can allow them to give a joint fight against the many problems that beset
the world today. I also believe that the great majority, in fact, long for
embracing the other and meet them around this commonality, thereby rejecting the
theories of a looming confrontation. It is in this context that we must all
refrain from policies that can cause “Islamophobia” to take deeper roots in the
Western societies. It is paramount that we act with common sense and a
heightened sense of responsibility at this critical juncture. Our common
historical experiences and values show us the way. We must not only demonstrate
a common resolve, but we must also ensure that we do use all available means and
mechanisms at our disposal to defuse the present tensions.
02.10.2006 www.abhaber.com
Turkish PM sends letters to world leaders on cartoon crisis
2006-02-11 01:05:44
www.chinaview.cn
ANKARA, Feb. 10 (Xinhuanet) -- Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan on Friday sent a letter to member countries of the United Nations, the
Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and NATO, in an effort to overcome
the cartoon crisis.
In his letter which were also sent to the leaders of the countries with
Turkish embassies, Erdogan said, "in the face of recent developments instigated
by the publication of a series of caricatures depicting the Prophet Mohammad, it
is necessary to write to you and share with you my views in the hope of
preventing the present situation from escalating to a point where it could
further threaten international peace and stability."
"These unfortunate events have created tension almost bounding to a
polarization between the East and the West and between the Islamic and Christian
worlds as never seen before in recent times," said the letter.
"We should try to understand the underlying reasons behind the latest
incidents. Muslims, as a rule, pay due respect to all prophets. Despite their
deep respect for the Prophet Mohammad and their strong belief in the Islamic
teachings, they would listen to all well-meaning criticisms," he emphasized.
"The Muslims cannot, however, be expected to tolerate so-called
criticisms which evidently transgress the boundaries of genuine criticism and
which are, in fact, outright insults and degradation of the Prophet Mohammad,"
he said.
Erdogan noted that "certain parts of the media saw this whole series of
unfortunate events as a test-case for freedom of expression. There is an
inclination to make use of the situation to probe the patience of the Islamic
world and their conceptualization of freedom. Such cultural arrogance on the
part of any culture or civilization cannot be justified," he added.
"No culture has a given right to insult the sensitivities of other
cultures," he said, stressing that "there is no freedom on earth that can be
used to degrade and insult beliefs, values and sacred symbols."
Erdogan added that Turkey supported all genuine efforts geared for
enriched dialogue, reconciliation and integration,
The controversial cartoons, which were first published by Danish daily
Jyllands-Poste last September and later reprinted in other European press, were
deemed as blasphemous by most Muslims.
Over the past few weeks, many Muslim countries have seen violent protests
against Western diplomatic missions and a boycott of Danish goods.
Turkey, a Muslim-dominated but secular country, has been calling for
dialogue between western countries and the Islamic world to resolve the cartoon
row. Enditem
Hurriyat appeals to OIC to convene emergency meeting
www.hindu.com
Srinagar, Feb. 10 (PTI): The Hurriyat Conference
today appealed to the Organisation of Islamic Countries to convene an emergency
meeting to chalk out a strategy to foil "conspiracies" being hatched against
Muslims as Kashmir-wide protests were held against the publication of cartoons
of the Prophet Muhammad in a Danish newspaper.
"We appeal to the OIC to convene an urgent meeting
of the member countries to chalk out a strategy to foil conspiracies being
hatched by anti-Muslim forces against Muslims, their Prophet and holy Quaran,"
Hurriyat Chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, said here.
Mirwaiz addressed a Friday congregation at Jamia
Masjid and later led a protest rally from the mosque to Mirwaiz Manzil where a
protest demonstration was held against the publication of the cartoons.
He said the protest world-wide over the publication
of the cartoons of the Prophet was justified as Muslims would not tolerate
blasphemy towards the prophet. The publication of cartoons has not only hurt the
sentiments of Muslims but provoked them. The need of the hour is to stand up
unitedly and foil the nefarious designs of the anti-Muslim forces, he added.
Similar protests were held at all mosques throughout
the valley. Official sources said.
Education key to averting future ‘cartoon
controversies’ – UN official
9 February 2006 – Education is key to
combating the mutual ignorance and fear that are fuelling controversy over
caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad and to preventing future clashes of a
similar nature, a United Nations official dealing with the cultural gap between
Islam and the West has said.
“We have to get to a point that different societies have some degrees of
understanding of the concerns and the grievances and even the sensitivities of
the other societies in the world,” Shamil Idriss, Deputy Director of the
Office of the Alliance of Civilizations, said in an interview with the UN
News Service.
“It is an educational issue,” he said, questioning which steps might have
prevented the deadly confrontations over the caricatures, originally published
in a Danish newspaper, that have occurred in numerous countries. “What could
have been done in the three months between the printing and the violence
breaking out? What could have been done differently at the political level, at
the religious level, at the civil society level, to prevent the violence? What
could have been done before the articles have been printed?
The furore was caused by mutual ignorance and mutual fear, he said. As a
result, the response must redress these specific problems. “Then the solutions
are mutual respect and education, population exchanges and cross-cultural
cooperation,” he said.
Last July, Secretary-General Kofi Annan established a High-Level Panel on the
Alliance of Civilizations. The group will present its report to the
Secretary-General later this year, Mr. Idriss said. This will include a plan of
action for bridging the gap between cultures, especially Islam and the West,
which threatens peace in the world.
“Right now, we are working on four major issues: the issue of youth
engagement, the issue of the impact of the media and how media could have a more
constructive impact, the issue of immigrants integration and the issue of
educational reform,” he said.
Jointly led by Federico Mayor, the former head of the UN Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and Mehmet Aydin, a minister and
professor of theology from Turkey, the High-Level Group held its first meeting
in Majorca, Spain last year. It will meet again in approximately two weeks.
Recent violence over the caricatures “will be in the top of our list,” Mr.
Idriss said.
Members of the Panel range from such renowned theologians as Desmond Tutu of
South Africa, Karen Armstrong of the United Kingdom, Arthur Schneir of the
United States and Mr. Aydin, to administrators of cultural institutions, such as
Ismali Serageldin of Egypt’s Biblioteca Alexandria.
The call for the alliance was initiated by Spanish Prime Minister José Luis
Rodriguez Zapatero and co-sponsored by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan. http://www.un.org/News/
Turkey-EU Release Joint
Statement on Cartoon Crisis
Turkey continues its efforts to end the crisis that began after insulting
caricatures of Prophet Mohammed were published in the western media. Turkey and
European Union Term President Austria issued a joint statement calling for
"common sense" and emphasizing the importance of "respect to religious beliefs".
Ankara made intensive diplomatic efforts in order to convene the EU troika
(Austria-Finland-European Commission) and the Organization of Islamic Conference
(OIC) trio (Turkey-Azerbaijan-Yemen).
The meeting approved by OIC could not be held because a consensus could
not be obtained within the EU. Austria provided the excuse "There is a problem
in reaching a consensus among 25 countries. The participants are not available,
either." However, Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and his Austrian
counterpart, Ursula Plassnik, issued a joint statement yesterday.
The statement underlines that "The freedom of expression is a basic right"
and includes "Religious beliefs and views must be shown necessary respect.
Freedom of expression and respect to sacred values are principles that do not
oppose, but complete each other." The two ministers emphasized the latest
incidents showed a lack of dialogue between the Muslim world and the West, and
made the call that "the escalating of polarization must be prevented."
Although the meeting of troikas did not take place, Ankara will continue its
efforts for the Muslim world and the West to approach and understand each other
more. In this frame, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinemeir will pay an
unexpected visit to Turkey on Tuesday, February 14, in order to discuss the
caricature crisis.
The German Minister will stop in Turkey on his return from an Amman visit and
meet his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul. The two ministers will make a call
for resolving the problem. Abdullah Gul, in the "Turkey-EU troika" meeting to be
held on March 8, will put forth Turkey's outlook once more. Gul will make a
relevant speech in the "EU-Western Balkan countries foreign ministers" meeting
to be held in Salzbourg on March 11. Austria wants to host a high level meeting
of "alliance of civilizations" in March with the support of Ankara.
Coalitions have been formed on the grounds of "Freedom of expression exists
but sanctities must be respected” in Ankara, which is making efforts "to prevent
the mistake from being repeated beyond just apologizing.”
Important statements supporting this understanding came from France, Russia,
and the UN-OIC-EU trio. "Turkey can bring together civilizations thanks to its
historical heritage. There are suggestions for this and the efforts will
continue. However, in the light of all these discussions, the EU saw what it
missed by not attending the OIC-EU meeting last year. The EU could not reach a
consensus and could not develop a method about how it will solve this problem
within itself. Big countries displayed proper behavior, whereas the small ones
were dominated by the instinct to protect themselves." 10.02.2006 Suleyman Kurt
Ankara
http://www.zaman.com
EU leader pushes code of conduct for journalists
By David Rennie
LONDON DAILY TELEGRAPH
February 9, 2006
BRUSSELS -- A senior European Union official yesterday proposed a European
press charter that would commit journalists to "prudence" when reporting on
Islam and other religions.
Franco Frattini, the European Union commissioner for justice, freedom and
security, revealed the idea for a code of conduct in an interview with the Daily
Telegraph.
Mr. Frattini, a former Italian foreign minister, said the European Union
faced the "very real problem" of trying to reconcile "two fundamental freedoms,
the freedom of expression and the freedom of religion."
Millions of European Muslims felt "humiliated" by the publication of
cartoons depicting the prophet Muhammad, he said, calling on journalists to
accept that "the exercising of a right is always the assumption of a
responsibility."
Mr. Frattini appealed to European journalists to agree to "self-regulate."
Such a move would send an important political message to the Muslim world, he
said.
By agreeing to a charter, "the press will give the Muslim world the message:
we are aware of the consequences of exercising the right of free expression, we
can and we are ready to self-regulate that right," he said.
The code of conduct, as envisaged by Mr. Frattini, would acknowledge the
importance of respecting religious sensibilities, but would not offer a
"privileged" status to any one faith.
The European Commission has long had ambitions to introduce European
Union-wide legislation on fighting racism and xenophobia, but has seen them
founder amid resistance from national governments.
Mr. Frattini said he was keen to move ahead with a voluntary code of
conduct, to be drawn up by European press outlets with the assistance of the
commission. The code would not have the status of an EU legal instrument and
would not be enforceable by EU institutions.
Instead, he said, the commission would play the role of "political
facilitator" as journalists and editors draw up their own charter.
Mr. Frattini, who plans meetings with Muslim leaders and European press,
broadcasting and newspaper publishers' associations, asked journalists to take
greater account of the political, cultural and diplomatic "context" in which
they were planning to publish.
He said the recent republication of the Muhammad cartoons by more than a
dozen newspapers in Europe and further afield had been "imprudent," because the
situation in the Middle East and the Muslim world was unusually tense.
Annan urges media not to publish Mohammad cartoons
Thu Feb 9, 2006 11:59 AM EST
By Evelyn Leopold
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan scolded the
media on Thursday for continuing to publish cartoons lampooning the Prophet
Mohammad and defended an attempt by Islamic nations to have a new U.N.
human-rights council address religious defamation.
Annan also said he had no knowledge about U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza
Rice's assertion on Wednesday that Iran and Syria had gone out of their way "to
inflame sentiments and to use this to their own purposes."
"I have no evidence to that effect," Annan told reporters after arriving at
U.N. headquarters. "This is so widespread, and it is unfortunate (and) we all
need to take steps to calm the situation."
A Danish paper last September first published the cartoons, which included
one of the Prophet Mohammad with a turban resembling a bomb.
In the past week, publications around the world have reproduced the cartoons
after they sparked fury from Muslims and violent protests at Danish embassies
and other European targets in the Middle East. Many Muslims regard any image of
the Prophet as blasphemous.
"Honestly, I do not understand why any newspaper will publish the cartoons
today," Annan said. "It is insensitive. It is offensive. It is provocative and
you see what has happened around the world."
Annan said this did not mean he opposed freedom of the press, but he said it
did entail "exercising responsibility and judgment" and media should not "pour
oil on the fire."
He again condemned violence as unacceptable and said, . "They should not
attack innocent civilians. They should not attack those who are not responsible
for the publication of the cartoons."
HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
Annan also defended an attempt by Islamic nations to insert anti-defamation
language into an already controversial founding document for a new U.N. human
rights council to replace the discredited Geneva-based U.N. Human Rights
Commission.
"I met with them and I don't think they are in a confrontational mood at
all," Annan said.
The text proposed by 57 Islamic countries, obtained by Reuters, would promote
universal respect for all religious and cultural values.
It would "prevent instances of intolerance, discrimination, incitement of
hatred and violence arising from any actions against religions, prophets and
beliefs which threaten the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms."
It also notes that "defamation of religions and prophets is inconsistent with
the right to freedom of expression" and emphasized that states, organizations
and the media have a "responsibility in promoting tolerance and respect for
religious and cultural values."
The aim is to get adoption of the new human rights body this month, so it can
begin to function this summer. Some U.S. Congress members want to make a new
rights body a condition for paying U.N. dues.
World leaders agreed at a U.N. summit in September to create a new body to
replace the 53-member Human Rights Commission, known for giving seats to
countries such as Sudan and Zimbabwe and blocking criticism of rights abusers.
Balancing freedom and responsibility
Using our rights responsibly may mean not showing offensive cartoons.
By Daniel Schorr
www.csmonitor.com
WASHINGTON - As a certified defender of the First
Amendment, I've been asked by many people why the American media invoked the
people's right to know in breaching national security but is acting with much
more circumspection when it comes to combustible cartoons.
The Danish cartoons, one of them depicting the prophet Muhammad with a bomb
as his turban, have triggered enraged demonstrations wherever there are sizable
Muslim populations, climaxed by the burning of the Danish missions in Beirut and
Damascus.
In this country, coverage has centered on the violent protests, but the
offending cartoons are hard, almost impossible to find. There was no cartoon in
the many newspapers I saw. Since then, the Philadelphia Inquirer has printed one
of the cartoons. ABC was the only television network I saw that carried a brief
shot of one cartoon. NBC said without explanation that it was not showing any of
the cartoons. National Public Radio stated that it had decided not to post the
cartoons on its website because they were highly offensive to millions of
Muslims.
The State Department straddled the issue saying that the cartoons were
"unacceptable," but defending the right of Danish and French newspapers to
publish them. The Committee to Protect Journalists in New York said, "you have
to hold your nose, but they have a right to publish."
So where do I stand? The easy answer is that freedom of speech implies
freedom not to speak. No, that's not quite good enough. But rights are best
defended when employed responsibly.
In 1976, I was summoned before the House Ethics Committee which was
investigating a leak of some secret information that I had caused to be
published. And I was asked by an irate Congressman whether I would divulge
anything I got, no matter how much harm it might do. I said no, I would not.
That I had learned over the years that rights are not absolute and may,
especially in times of tension, have to give ground to other interests.
In 1919, Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes ruled that the First
Amendment does not protect a man falsely shouting "fire" in a theater and
causing a panic.
Maybe a cartoon that may inflame millions should be described but not shown,
as a matter of judgment and taste.
• Daniel Schorr is a senior news analyst at National Public Radio.
Russia and Spain: Setting Standards of European Conduct
10/02/2006
http://en.rian.ru
MOSCOW. (RIA Novosti political commentator Dmitry Kosyrev.)-- Amid natural
satisfaction in the wake of Russian President Vladimir Putin's clearly
successful visit to Spain, big questions arise as to the essence of Russia's
relations with the Europeans.
On the one hand, Putin has successfully promoted a close relationship
between Russia and not only Spanish leaders - both the King and the Prime
Minister - but also Italy, the Netherlands, France, and Germany - in the
latter case, as recent experience shows, even irrespective of who is in power
there.
On the other, European institutions have generated a strong and competent,
though largely unofficial, opinion in Moscow that they do not know how to deal
with Russia and, most importantly, few people there would like to. Russians
are wondering how the whole can be so much less than the sum of its parts.
The answer, however, seems to be simple enough. Disillusioned about
Russia's intentions regarding Europe, which he thought would be to "fit in",
reshaping its values and standards into the European mould, a conceptual
European is said to be totally confused to see the Eastern neighbor have - and
aggressively seek to promote - its own standards, assessments, and attitudes.
What the Eastern neighbor wants is not to fit in with an existing community
but change it into a new one, including with its independent thoughts on
Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and other issues.
The essence of Putin's explicit message sent before and during his Madrid
visit is that standing on the cutting edge of the freedom of speech - the
cornerstone of the European mindset - is not the same as drawing short-minded
and offensive cartoons of prophets of other religions. Before thinking of
doing something like that, one should think about possible repercussions
first. In a clear sign of promoting political sanity, the Russian leader has
highlighted the idea of an "alliance of civilizations" in Madrid, an advance
of the former Iranian President Mohammad Hattami's call for "dialog of
civilizations." One move in that direction was his declared intention to
invite the leaders of Hamas, the winners of the recent Palestinian election
who are seen as terrorists by the United States and European Union, to Moscow.
At the end of the day, Moscow, unlike the West, appears to be a neutral
player in all the calamities of the past days: Iran's nuclear standstill, the
cartoon scandal and Palestinian elections. Madrid also seems to be looking for
a way out of the current state that leads one to draw a reasonable comparison
between Europe's looming deadlock on Russia with the quagmire Europe and the
West in general are already in with the Muslim world. In both cases, the
"conceptual Westerner" who sees himself as a civilizational standard-bearer
sets himself to play against all others who unsurprisingly know better.
Two spider's webs, however, seems to be somewhat more than the EU can
afford right now, which puts the Spanish leaders into a position to do
everyone a lot of good, and themselves first of all, by negotiating with Putin
to help find a solution. This meeting should be seen as an example of two
countries located on different sides of Europe proving themselves capable of
setting up an agenda all Europeans could use to their benefit. A full-fledged
state visit, after all, is as much about long-term bilateral perspectives as
about tactical and pragmatic issues.
His Majesty Juan Carlos said in his official greeting that Spain was
assured of the profound importance of maintaining a strategically prospective
Russia-EU relationship and confident that Russia, as a leading global player
and this year's G8 chair, would help resolve key challenges today's world is
facing.
This is a message of bilateral outreach. While Spain would welcome support
in its ascent to the G8, Russia needs help in engineering a stable
relationship with the EU as an entity and Europe as a civilization. In
economics, the two sides also seem poised to break beyond the bars of the
old-fashioned oil-for-wine agenda and start talking of joint space research,
investment projects, and other promising issues.
With many technicalities left unsolved after this visit, the great question
amid the overall success remains: whether two countries need to be separated
by the rest of Europe to find a common ground so easily?
Well, maybe they need what Russia and Spain have: a historically shaped
deep understanding of how to deal with people of a different disposition. In
this department, Spain has probably learnt as many lessons from its Latin
American experience as Russia from its contacts with Central and other Asias -
often controversial but putting both explicitly European powers in an
excellent position to push ahead for an "alliance of civilizations."
On the Other Side of the
Caricature
The Foreign Ministers of
Russia and Spain write exclusively for Kommersant
www.kommersant.com
In the midst of the
uproar over the caricature of the Prophet Mohammed published in a Danish
newspaper, Russian
Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov and Minister of Foreign
Affairs and Cooperation of the Kingdom of Spain Miguel Angel Moratinos
have coauthored this article, in which they attempt to answer the
question of what lessons the world community can learn from the crisis
surrounding the scandalous publication. They submitted their article to
Kommersant.
A preliminary account can already be taken of the crisis that has arisen in
the last several days because of the caricature. The most serious and
irremediable result has been the deaths of several dozen people in various
incidents. It can be stated that misunderstanding and mutual enmity exist at all
times and are ready to surface unexpectedly at the first possibility.
But we have also learned several lessons that will help us prevent such
escalations in the future.
First, a valuable discussion of freedom of speech has been started. The majority
agree that it should be limited only by law. Freedom of speech is one of the
fundamental pillars of our society. Every editor-in-chief decides what to
publish and what not to publish and no democratic government has the right to
interfere in his work. But he, like every journalist, must feel personal
responsibility. The way in which we use our freedom of speech can lead to
unexpected consequences, as we have witnessed in the past few days. Political
leaders urge people to responsibility and respect for members of other cultures.
That applies in equal measure to the need not to allow the media to be used for
the incitement of terrorism.
Second, the offense of their religious feelings felt by many Muslims in no way
justifies their violence. We have seen the burning of the diplomatic offices of
countries and we are in full solidarity with those countries. Al the facts
should be carefully investigated by the states on whose territory the incidents
took places. There were also peaceful protests in many countries and many Muslim
leaders, such as Ali al-Sistani, expressed their regret over the publication of
the caricature and publicly condemned the spiral of violence that followed it.
We should not fall into the trap of hoping to use the situation for our own
interest.
Third, the incident yet again convinces us of the timeliness of the initiative
to form the Alliance of Civilizations, which was supported by
the UN
General Secretary in July 2005 when it was presented by Turkey and Spain. In
October of last year, a joint article was published that emphasized that
cooperation between civilizations and the coexistence of different cultures both
within and beyond our borders, is one of the most meaningful challenges facing
the international community in the coming decades. We cannot under any
circumstances allow conflicts on ethnic, religious or cultural grounds to
replace the ideological conflicts that lead to the confrontation of states in
the Cold War.
The Alliance of Civilizations is a response to the desire to provide the
international community with new instruments for mutual understanding and
cooperation between the Muslim and Western communities. That Alliance of
Civilizations seeks to form a broad coalition against extremists. It is an
alliance against intolerance of any kind and against a simplified view of
conflict situations that does not correspond to the realities of an ever more
complicated world. We cannot allow those who have turned to violence to triumph
in the struggle of ideas against their propaganda of hate that contains no
solution and is doomed to failure.
Spain and Russia and, unfortunately, many other countries have experienced grave
terrorist acts on their territories, sometimes organized by parties using
religious motives. Nonetheless, our citizens are able to differentiate religious
feeling from the manipulation of them that many fanatics carry out. No religion
calls for violence or hatred. Great religions are incompatible with calls to
violence and terror in their essence and that is why they deserve great respect.
At the end of February, the second meeting of the High-Level Group of the
Alliance of Civilizations will take place in Doha.
We expect that it will be a good opportunity to move forward on the path to
determining the political and other problems that are based on misunderstanding
and mutual mistrust. We must learn to identify our common values, which will
help us determine common directions for political action to mobilize the will of
an enormous number of those who live on the Earth who are seeking dialog and
tolerance. The time has come to intensify the dialog to develop joint
initiatives.
By Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian
Federation; Miguel Angel Moratinos, Minister of Foreign Affairs and
Cooperation of the Kingdom of Spain.
Islamic official warns Frattini over cartoon 'hate programme'
09.02.2006 - 18:27 CET | By Teresa
Küchler www.euobserver.com
A top Islamic official in Brussels has said muslims around the
world see caricatures of the prophet Mohammed as a direct attack on their values
and called their publication in European newspapers a "hate programme."
The chairman of World Islamic Call Society, Mohamed Ahmed Sherif told a press
conference in Brussels on Thursday (9 February) that the cartoons of Mohammed
published first in Danish daily Jyllands-Posten, fuelled extremism.
"Nobody should blame the muslims if they are unhappy about the images of the
prophet Mohammed," Sherif said coming out from a meeting with EU justice
commissioner Franco Frattini in Brussels.
"It’s forbidden to create a hate programme to show that the prophet is a
terrorist while he’s not," he stated.
"Don’t ask us to try to make people understand that this is not a campaign of
hate."
Frattini says he was misunderstood
EU justice commissioner Franco Frattini repeatedly nodded and mumbled "yes" in
front of cameras and microphones during Mr Sherif's statement.
Mr Frattini also denied wanting to create a code of conduct for journalists
reporting on religious matters, as indicated by earlier media reports.
"There have never been, nor will there be any plans by the European Commission
to have some sort of EU regulation, nor is there any legal basis for doing so,"
the commissioner stated.
Mr Frattini said he wished to clarify possible misunderstandings about his
position in the Danish-Muslim row, in an interview with UK daily newspaper The
Telegraph.
"It is up to the media themselves to self-regulate or not, and it is up to the
media to formulate such a voluntary code of conduct if it is found necessary,
appropriate and useful by them," he said.
"The freedom of speech is one of the European Union's pillars, and will remain
to be one of its pillars," the commissioner said.
Sense and sensibility, please
Muslims around the world have responded with furore over the cartoons -
including one drawing of Mohammed wearing a bomb-shaped turban - as modern
practice of Islam does not allow any visual depictions of Mohammed.
Politicians have tried to sooth muslim anger and discourage western media from
publishing the cartoons, but press from over 20 countries in and out of Europe
has acted in solidarity with the Danish daily and the principle of freedom of
expression.
Meanwhile, the leaders of the political groups in the European Parliament on
Thursday decided not to vote for a resolution on the cartoons.
A brief debate is scheduled for next week's parliamentary session in Strasbourg,
but presidents decided to only allow for one person from each group to speak on
the sensitive issue.
A spokesperson from the European Parliament said MEPs would not want to take a
firm stance on the matter before the Euro-Mediterranean summit, including
several muslim states on the south and east coast of the Mediterranean Sea, set
for the end of March.
Speaking in Brussels, commissioner Franco Frattini said that a complete new
dialogue had to be launched between the EU and the muslim world, and that for
that he needed "people with good will".
Frattini said that lacking in legislative power of press matter, he would appeal
to the sense of responsibility in the media, urging leading journalists to
restrain from publishing or re-publishing the disputed cartoons.
Anything goes, NGO says
Vincent Brossel from organisation Reporters Without Borders (RSF) in Paris told
EUobserver that any encouragement of a code of conduct for journalists is a
signs of politicians trying to sooth the political tension right now.
Mr Brossel said that politicians should be careful with what they propose, and
stated that the RSF would be against any limitations on free speech.
"The European court of human rights has ruled that all opinions can be expressed
or written, even those who shock a majority of the people," he said,
highlighting the wide freedoms enjoyed by Danish media.
"The Danish law is freer than most European when it comes to publications of
possibly sensitive pictures," Mr Brossel explained.
"In France, a poster of Jesus Christ surrounded by lightly-dressed women at the
last supper had to be taken down after complaints from Christian groups, and
around Europe there are several similar cases," he stated.
LONDON: A Europe-wide voluntary code of conduct for the media
has been proposed to prevent a repetition of incidents such as the current row
over the publication of cartoons of Prophet Muhammed, which have sparked
worldwide protests by Muslims.
The code, proposed by the European Union Commissioner for
Justice, Freedom and Security Franco Frattini, would call for "prudence'' by the
media when reporting sensitive faith issues.
The idea, he said, was to emphasise that the right to free
speech also carried with it responsibilities, but he insisted that it was not
intended to curb the freedom of the press in any way. Mr Frattini, a former
Italian foreign minister, told The Daily Telegraph that by agreeing to a
self-regulating code "the press will give the Muslim world the message: we are
aware of the consequences of exercising the right of free expression, we can and
we are ready to self-regulate that right''.
He said in an interview that Europe faced a "very real
problem'' of trying to reconcile the "freedom of expression and the freedom of
religion'' both of which, he acknowledged, were "fundamental''.
Mr Frattini clarified that the proposed code would not be
legally binding. The E.U. would not have powers to enforce it.
His remarks came as commentators in Britain called for media
to respect religious sensitivities of others.
BURSA - ''The Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) Parliamentary Union
will convene in Turkey in April,'' Turkish Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc
said on Monday.
Replying to a question about publication of the caricatures offending
the Islam world, Arinc said OIC Parliamentary Union would convene in April,
stating that, ''I will host the meeting. Those issues will be discussed there.
We will issue an Istanbul declaration to the whole world.''
Arinc remarked that a second saddening incident occurred in Trabzon on
Sunday, and emphasized that, ''this is very saddening as regards to internal
and external repercussions. All our nation condemn this murder. The reason of
the murder should be clarified and the assailants should be punished.''
-MURDER IN TRABZON AND CARICATURE CRISIS-
Arinc said he did not know whether the murder of the priest was linked
to the ''caricature crisis'', stating that the protests should be reasonable
and should not include violence.
Asked, ''this incident incites clash of civilizations. What will Turkey
do?'' Arinc said, ''there are some circles who desire dispute between
religions. However, Turkey, being a point where civilizations meet, esteemed
religions and beliefs throughout its history and considered differences as
wealth. Turkey will again be a leader and the best example at the meeting of
civilizations.''
Arinc said apart from the OIC meeting, there would be a meeting of
European Parliament Speakers, ''the meeting will take place in Denmark. I will
have the opportunity to express Turkey's views as the only Muslim country at
the meeting.''
Erdogan And Zapatero Call For Respect And Calm In Cartoon Crisis
Published: 2/6/2006
 |
|
PARIS -
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Spanish Prime
Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero made a joint plea for respect and calm
on Monday as many Muslims express anger about caricatures offending Muslim
world that have been published in European newspapers.
Erdogan and Zapatero said in an article in the International Herald
Tribune that they were increasingly concerned by the rise in tension
provoked by the cartoons.
''With growing concern, we are witnessing the escalation in disturbing
tensions provoked by the publication, in European newspapers, of caricatures
of the Prophet Muhammad that Muslims consider deeply offensive. We shall all
be the losers if we fail to immediately defuse this situation, which can
only leave a trail of mistrust and misunderstanding between both sides in
its wake. Therefore, it is necessary to make an appeal for respect and calm,
and let the voice of reason be heard,'' noted Erdogan and Zapatero.
The two premiers said in the article, ''last year, when the heads of
government of Turkey and Spain presided over the launching of work on the
Alliance of Civilizations Project, we did so based on a firm belief: that we
needed initiatives and instruments to stop the spiral of hatred and
obfuscation that, in itself, constitutes a threat to international peace and
security.''
''Historically, Spain and Turkey have been at crossroads between East and
West. Therefore, we are very aware that the way in which close contact
between different cultures is handled can be enormously enriching, but it
can also set off destructive contentions, ''Erdogan and Zapatero
underscored.
The two premiers indicated, ''in a globalized world, in which the
relationships and exchanges among different civilizations continue to
multiply, and in which a local incident may have worldwide repercussions, it
is vital that we cultivate the values of respect, tolerance and peaceful
coexistence.''
''Freedom of expression is one of the cornerstones of our democratic
systems and we shall never relinquish it. But there are no rights without
responsibility and respect for different sensibilities. The publication of
these caricatures may be perfectly legal, but it is not indifferent and thus
ought to be rejected from a moral and political standpoint,'' they stated.
Turkish and Spanish premiers stressed, ''in the end, all of this lends
itself to misunderstandings and misrepresentations of cultural differences
that are perfectly in harmony with our commonly shared values. Ignoring this
fact usually paves the way for mistrust, alienation and anger, all of which
may result in undesirable consequences that we all have to work hard to
avoid.''
''The only way for us to build a more just international system is
through maximum respect for the beliefs of both sides. We are fully
committed to observing the norms of international law and to the defense of
the international organizations that embody it. But neither laws nor
institutions are enough to ensure peace in the world,'' the two prime
ministers said.
Erdogan and Zapatero added, ''we need to cultivate peaceful coexistence,
which is only possible when there is interest in understanding the other
side's point of view, and respect for that which it holds most sacred. These
are the basic premises and main goals of the Alliance of Civilizations
promoted by Spain and Turkey.''
Prime Minister Zapatero to meet top Muslim leaders
El Pais Spain | STAFF REPORTER February 9, 2006
www.inadaily.com
Madrid
In an attempt to ensure "mutual understanding and dialogue" with the
Muslim community in the wake of the controversy unleashed by the publication
of cartoons of Prophet Mohammed, Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero
will meet today with the country's most prominent Islamic leaders - the
first time he will meet with representatives of the Islamic community since
he took office in 2004.
Let's try to get beyond caricatures
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono International Herald
Tribune
www.iht.com
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2006
JAKARTA The distasteful cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad, first
published in Denmark in September 2005 and subsequently reproduced in
other media, continue to spark a chain of reactions ranging from peaceful
protest to violence in many Muslim communities.
The international community must work together to put out this fire. A
good start would be to stop justifying the cartoons as "freedom of the
press," which only hardens the Muslim community's response. Another vital
step would be to discontinue their reproduction, which only prolongs the
outrage.
To non-Muslims, the image of the Prophet Muhammad may only be of casual
interest. But to Muslim communities worldwide, it is of enormous spiritual
importance. For the last 14 centuries, Muslims have adhered to a strict
code that prohibits any visual portrait of the Prophet. When this code was
violated and their Prophet mocked for the purpose of humor, Muslims felt a
direct assault on their faith.
Reprinting the cartoons in order to make a point about free speech is an
act of senseless brinkmanship. It is also a disservice to democracy. It
sends a conflicting message to the Muslim community: that in a democracy,
it is permissible to offend Islam.
This message damages efforts to prove that democracy and Islam go
together. The average Muslim who prays five times a day needs to be
convinced that the democracy he is embracing, and is expected to defend,
also protects and respects Islam's sacred symbols. Otherwise, democracy
will not be of much interest to him.
The cartoon crisis serves as a reminder that all hell may break loose in a
world of intolerance and ignorance.
The global community needs to cultivate democracies of freedom and
tolerance - not democracies of freedom versus tolerance. It is tolerance
that protects freedom, harnesses diversity, strengthens peace and delivers
progress.
Since the Sept. 11 terror attacks, many in the Western world have shown
increasing interest in the Islamic world. Yet this interest has not been
accompanied by a greater knowledge and understanding of Islam. In December
last year, the summit of the Organization of the Islamic Conference in
Mecca lamented "the feelings of stigmatization and concern over the
growing phenomenon of Islamophobia around the world as a form of racism
and discrimination."
The West and Islam need not collide in a clash of civilizations. Many
Islamic communities comfortably embrace some Western habits.
Correspondingly, Islam has become the fastest-growing religion in some
Western nations, including the United States. The Western and Islamic
worlds can conscientiously work together to nurture a global culture of
respect and tolerance.
The international community must not come out of the cartoon crisis broken
and divided. We need to build more bridges between religions,
civilizations and cultures. Government leaders, religious figures and
ordinary citizens can go beyond supporting religious freedom - they can
express solidarity with those who are defending the integrity of their
faith.
We also need to intensify interfaith dialogue so that we may further tear
down the walls of misunderstanding and mistrust - an undertaking that
Indonesia has actively promoted.
Muslims around the world also have responsibilities. No one - certainly
not Muslims - will be better off if the current crisis descends into open
conflict and more bloodshed. The best way for Muslims to fight intolerance
and ignorance toward Islam is by tirelessly reaching out to non-Muslims
and projecting Islam as a peaceful religion. We also need to be forgiving
to those who have sincerely apologized for offending Islam.
Indeed, at this difficult moment, Muslims might emulate the Prophet
Muhammad's well-known qualities in dealing with adversity: composure,
sound judgment, magnanimity and benevolence.
(Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is the president of Indonesia.)
NATO, EU Islam anti-cartoon violence
BRUSSELS, Feb. 6 (UPI) -- The European Union and NATO have condemned
weekend violence against Europeans in the Middle East, stressing the
importance of press freedom in democracies.
The Union's foreign affairs chief, Javier Solana, urged local, political
and religious authorities to put an end to the violent demonstrations in the
Muslim world against the publication of 12 caricatures of Mohammed, saying
such acts can only harm the peaceful image of Islam.
"It is now time for everyone to act to calm the situation and to help
consolidate the relationship of friendship and mutual respect sought by all
the governments of the European Union," he said.
NATO's Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer joined the chorus,
condemning the attacks on Scandinavian embassies in Syria and Lebanon.
"While I understand that many Muslims have been offended by the recently
published editorial cartoons, there is absolutely no justification for this
violence," said the alliance chief, adding: "Nor can the freedom of the press
in our countries ever be called in any way into question."
Malaysia: Stop Demonizing Islam-West
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Feb. 10 (UPI) -- Western foreign policies and the
perception of Muslims as terrorists have opened a large and ominous gulf
between Islam and the West, one of the Islamic world's most pro-Western
leaders charged Friday.
Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi, speaking to an international
conference in Kuala Lumpur that sought common ground between Western and
Islamic thinkers, said the two sides "have to stop demonizing one another,
restrain extremist views and pursue moderation."
"The West should treat Islam the way it wants Islam to treat the West and
vice versa -- they should accept one another as equals," Badawi said.
The current head of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the
international body that brings together the predominantly Muslim states,
Badawi promotes a moderate and modernized form of Islam. He also criticized
other Muslim countries for failing to educate their people and modernize
their societies.
His country is one of the most economically successful and fast-growing
countries in the Islamic world, with an average GDP growth of 5.2 percent
over the past decade. While benefiting from important energy supplies,
Malaysia also boasts diversified manufacturing and industrial sectors.
As Badawi spoke, Malaysia's capital; witnessed the largest demonstration
in years as an estimated 6,000 people marched from mosques to the Danish
Embassy to protest the publication of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed in a
Danish paper.
"Long live Islam. Destroy Denmark. Destroy Israel. Destroy George Bush.
Destroy America," protesters shouted, according to local press reports.
Badawi, less critical of the West than his outspoken predecessor Mahathir
Mohamad, stressed that mere dialog and mollifying speeches by politicians
were not enough to bring the yawning gap between Islam and the West. Mutual
respect should replace what he called "hegemony," and the West's media and
governments had a responsibility to educate their people into the reality of
the Muslim world and replace false perceptions.
"They think Osama bin Laden speaks for the religion and its followers,"
he told the conference. "The demonization of Islam and the vilification of
Muslims, there is no denying, is widespread within mainstream Western
society."
The West had to understand that its foreign policies in invading Iraq,
supporting Israel almost unconditionally and Russia's ruthless prosecution
of the war in Chechnya all contributed to the anger and dismay of Muslims.
But equally Muslims had a responsibility to end "sweeping denunciation of
Christians, Jews and the West," he went on.
As Badawi spoke, his government closed a newspaper in Sarawak for
reproducing the controversial cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed that first
appeared in the Danish paper Jyllands-Posten. Badawi, who also doubles as
Malaysia's Internal Security Minister, suspended the Sarawak Tribune's
publication license despite an apology by the editor, and said their
publication as "insensitive and irresponsible."
But overall, Malaysia is seen in Washington and Europe as one of the most
pro-Western countries, and as a model of how the Islamic world can be
modernized and succeed through an embrace of globalization. Malaysia does
not exactly boast about it, but its cooperation with the United States is
rated as "exemplary" in Washington, not least because of the blanket
overflight rights given to U.S. warplanes heading to Afghanistan and the
Indian Ocean base of Diego Garcia, and eventually to Iraq. The Malaysian Air
Force flies U.S.-built F-18D fighters, and are looking to upgrade to the
F-18F Super-Hornets.
At the Butterworth Air Force Base outside Penang, the integrated air
defense commander is an Australian, under the 5-power agreement between
Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Singapore. American Special
Forces troops train at the Malaysian Army's Jungle Warfare school (founded
by the British).
"Our military-to-military links with the U.S. are excellent, the pillar
of our bilateral relations," the Defense Minister told UPI last year.
The relationship that all these military links are helping to defend is
based on a total of $22 billion in U.S. Investment, in the electronics and
energy industries that sustain Malaysia's prosperity. Ninety percent of Dell
laptop computers are made there. GE says its Malaysian jet engine servicing
center is its most profitable, and GE's praise is luring Boeing to join
them. The HSBC and Standard Chartered banking groups have set up their data
processing and back office centers here.
Malaysia understands that its prosperity rests on a global economy that
is sustained and guaranteed by the United States. The war against Iraq was
hugely unpopular, partly because the government fears it could incite more
Muslim fundamentalism and complicate its own anti-terrorist efforts. But
when a boycott of Coca-Cola was called, Malaysians realized that 20,000
Malaysian jobs would be at risk and the boycott ended the day it started.
IRNA news agency said Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki submitted the
request to ICO acting President, Yemenite Abubaker al Qirbi.
“Unfortunately, Islamophobia and Western insults to Islamic values and Muslim
sanctity is currently spreading through Europe in various forms at alarming
speed,” said Al Quirbi.
Iran hosted one of the most violent protests against cartoons featuring
Mohammed in European publications, turning the anti-Islam campaign "the top
challenge on the ICO´s 10-year program," added the Foreign Minister.
"Disrespect for the holy prophet of Islam has been given broad media coverage
like well calculated plots from European states " and some cases even involve
government officials, said Al Quirbi.
Başbakan Erdoğan, Avrupa Birliği, İslam Konferansı Örgütü, NATO ve BM üyesi
ülke liderlerine birer mektup göndererek karikatür krizi ile ilgili olarak
sağduyu çağrısında bulundu.
Erdoğan karikatür krizinin İslam dünyası ile Hıristiyan dünyası arasında
yakın zamanlarda hiç görülmeyen bir gerginlik havası yarattığına dikkat çekti.
Devlet adamlarının akıl ve sağduyulu hareket etmelerinin küresel barış için
hayati önem taşıdığını belirten Erdoğan, kimi yayın kuruluşlarının olayları
“ifade özgürlüğünün test edilmesi” olarak görmesinin son derece yanlış olduğunu
vurguladı.
Başbakan, İslam dünyasının, Hazreti Muhammed’in hakarate maruz bırakılmasını
kabul etmesinin beklenemeyeceğini söyledi.
İslam dünyasını da protestolar konusunda uyaran Erdoğan hayal kırıklığı içinde
şiddete başvuranların ve bunu teşvik edenlerin kendi davalarına zarar vererek
haklılıklarını kaybettiklerini söyledi.
Bakanlar Kurulu sonrası AKP Merkez Yürütme Kurulu toplantısına giderken
soruları yanıtlayan Erdoğan, "Türkiye Başbakanı olarak AB liderlerine, diğer
dünya liderlerine ve İslam dünyasındaki liderlere yazacağız. Üzerinde çalışmalar
yapılıyor, İKÖ'nün de çalışmaları var. Biz troykanın da toplanmasını istiyoruz.
Bu konuda da çalışmalar var, işin sonuna kadar takipçisiyiz" dedi.
Medeniyetlerarası ittifakın geliştirilmesi yolunda adımlar atılan bir dönemde
yaşanan karikatür olayının İslam dünyasında istenmeyen hareketlere neden
olduğuna dikkat çeken Erdoğan, "Ancak kırma, yakma ve dökmeyi tasvip etmiyoruz.
Edepsizce, ahlaksızca ve özgürlük tanımının yanlış yorumlanarak bir peygambere
saldırıyı da kabul etmemiz mümkün değil. Bazıları Türkiye'de Hz. İsa'ya
saygısızlık yapıldığını yazmış; ben böyle bir olayı ne gördüm ne de şahit oldum.
Olsa biz tepki gösterirdik" diye konuştu. Erdoğan, bazı AB ülkelerinden gelen
Türkiye'ye ve İslam ülkelerine gitmeyin yönündeki uyarıyı yanlış bulduğunu
söyledi.
Türkiye, AB ve İKÖ'nün üçer ülkeden oluşan troyka yönetimleri, üç semavi
dinin yüksek düzeyli temsilcileri ve BM Genel Sekreteri Kofi Annan'ı
buluşturmayı planlıyor. AB adına dönem başkanı Avusturya, Finlandiya ve Avrupa
Komisyonu'nun, İKÖ adına ise Türkiye, Azerbaycan ve Yemen'in yer alacağı
toplantı sonrası tarafları 'itidale' çağıran bir bildiri yayımlanması
öngörülüyor. Toplantı yeri olarak ise 'krize kaynak ülkelere uzak ama
uluslararası basının kolayca ulaşabileceği bir yerde' olması planlanıyor.
İfade özgürlüğü mü karalama özgürlüğü mü!
Arap ve İslam ülkelerinin çoğunu saran protestoların sadece barışçıl
araçlarla sınırlı kalmasını, Danimarka elçiliklerinin ve konsolosluklarının
yakılması gibi başka şiddet görüntülerinden uzak olmasını temenni ederdik.
Abdulbari Atwan/El Kuds El Arabi
LONDRA - Bu yakma eylemleri gerekçesiz ve esef verici.
Ancak bizler aynı zamanda, sorumluluktan yoksun ve iğrenç, faşizan ve alçaltıcı
bir şekilde Hz.Muhammed’e hakaret eden karikatürlerin yayımlanması karşısında,
kendilerine ve inançlarına yapılan ağır karalama sebebiyle 1,5 milyar Müslümanın
büyüyen öfkesini de anlıyoruz.
İslam inancını karalayan ülkelerin ürettiği malların
ekonomik boykotu, meşru, hukuki ve uygarca bir eylem olmasının yanı sıra etkili
de. Zira Batılı ülkelere en fazla acı veren, ekonomik olarak etkilenmelerdir ve
petrolün 1973 savaşında silah olarak kullanılması, sadece Araplarının başarısına
yol açmamış, aynı zamanda petrole adil fiyatlar sağlamıştır. Şöyle ki; 3 yıldan
az bir süre içinde boykot fiyatları on kat arttırmış, petrol üreten ülkelerde ve
komşularında ekonomik sıçramaya katkısı olmuştur.
Sorumlu gazeteciliğin ahlaki sorumluluktan beslenmesi, sonuçlarını düşünmesi ve
başka dinlerin mensuplarına karşı nefret duygularını körüklemeye çalışmaması
gerekir. Yüce peygamberi karalayan karikatürlerin yayımlanması, açık bir
cehaleti, sadece Müslümanlara değil, dürüst bir diyaloğa inanan, dinler ve
kültürler arasında evrensel uzlaşı ve birlikte yaşamı arzulayan herkesi
karalamayı amaçlayan faşist ve kışkırtıcı bir eğilimdir.
11 Eylül olaylarından bu yana Arap ve Müslümanlara yönelik ‘İslam fobisi’ olgusu
arttı ve Avrupa’daki bazı sağcı medya organlarında Müslüman göçmenlere yönelik
faşizan kampanyalara yansıdı. Şöyle ki; başka uyruk ve dinlerin mensupları değil
de sadece Araplar ve Müslümanlar kasıtlı olarak terörle ilişkilendirildi.
Bu karalama kampanyasına önderlik eden Danimarka gazetesinin yazı işleri müdürü
dürüstçe özür dileseydi, böylesine dikkatsiz bir davranışın felaket etkilerini
kontrol altına almak mümkündü. Fakat bunu yapmadı, kışkırtmaya itina göstererek
ikinci kez yayımlamakta ısrar etti ve hatasını itiraf etmek, kapalı ve ikna
edici olmayan bir özür sunmak için tam 4 ay bekledi.
Danimarka’daki bazı gazetecilerin ve başka Batılı ülkelerdeki arkadaşlarının
onlarla dayanışma ve ifade özgürlüğünü savunma talebi öfkeyi alevlendirdi. Bazı
Yeni Zelandalı ve Avrupalı gazetelerin bu çağrılara karşılık vererek ve Arap ve
Müslümanların duygularına meydan okuyarak karalayıcı resimleri yeniden
yayımlaması esef verici.
İfade özgürlüğü başkalarını karalama ve saldırma özgürlüğü anlamına gelmez.
Şayet bu terör suçlaması Hz. İsa, Hz. Musa veya başka bir dinin peygamberlerine
yöneltilmiş olsaydı, Arap ve İslam başkentleri de dahil farklı dünya
başkentlerinde daha geniş ve art niyetli protestolar izlerdik.
Bizler Avrupa’da yaşıyoruz ve ifade özgürlüğünün sınırlarını biliyoruz. Hukukun
ve gazetecilerin gazete malzemeleri ve makalelerini yayımlanıp yayımlanmamasıyla
nasıl bir ilişki kurduklarını bildiğimiz gibi, her gazetenin, televizyonun veya
radyonun elinin altında editörler ve yazarların aşamayacağı ‘kırmızı çizgiler’
olduğunu da biliyoruz. Zira her gün gazeteler ve televizyonlar binlerce makale,
mektup ve yorum alıyorlar ancak yayımlamıyorlar veya çok sınırlı bir kısmı
okuyucu mektupları köşesinde kendisine yer bulabiliyor.
İngiltere’de örneğin bir gazete, delil ve kanıtlara sahip olmadan her hangi bir
şahsı terörle suçlayamaz. El Kuds El Arabi gazetesi ve yazı işleri müdürü, iki
Arap hükümeti tarafından hakaret ve lekeleme davaları arkasına gizlenmiş mali
olarak yıpratma amaçlı bir savaşla karşı karşıya kalmıştı. Oysa gazete olarak
biz Arap dışişleri bakanlarından birisinin İsrail nükleer kalıntılarının
ülkesine gömülmesi meselesini incelemeye aldığını zikretmiştik sadece. Bir
defasında da dörtlü isimde hata ettik ve hiçbir art niyet taşımadan Kuveytli
‘şeyh’ ile Kuveyt yatırım ofisinin mallarını yağmalayan amca oğlunu birbiriyle
karıştırmıştık.
Şahıslara dokunmak üstün körü de olsa yasanın cezalandırdığı bir suç olarak
görülmekte ancak peygambere alçaltıcı şekilde dokunmak ve terörle damgalamak suç
değil, ifade özgürlüğü kapsamında değerlendirilmekte..
Arap ve Müslümanlara kin duyan bazı kimselerin yasını tuttukları ifade özgürlüğü
söylemiyle ilgili olarak ne ben ne de her hangi bir İngiliz, Fransız veya
Danimarka gazetesi yayın yönetmeni, Hz. İsa’nın Japonya, Hiroşima, Nagazaki veya
başka bir kente nükleer bomba atarkenki karikatürlerini yayımlama gücüne sahip
değildir.
Bu ifade özgürlüğü, Ebu Hamza El Masri’nin ırkçılığı teşvik suçlamasıyla
tutuklanmasını, meşhur yazar David Arfang’ın 17 yıl önce yaptığı konuşmada
soykırımı inkar suçlamasıyla hapse atılmasını ve Fransız düşünür Roger
Garoudy’nin iflas ettirilmesi ve kuşatılmasını engellemedi.
Geriye nazik bir dille şunu söylemek kalıyor: Arap ümmetini ve başkentlerini
günlerce saran bu şiddetli öfkenin başka doğru yönlere de aktarılması gerekli.
Bu yönlerin en önemlileri ise ülkelerimizdeki özgürlük çıtasının yükseltilmesi
ve ulusal davalarımızı akıllı ve uygar şekilde savunmamız. Zira insan kendi
başına özgür değil ve sözleri başka haklı sorunları savunamamakta. Bizlere düşen,
bu öfkeyi içerisi için de olması gerekirken dışarıya yönlendirmeye çalışan
rejimlerden kendimizi kurtararak işe başlamamız.
Baskıcı entrikacı rejimlerin esasında kendilerine yönelik olan bu umutsuz öfke
selini dışarıdaki hedeflere yönlendirmesinden endişe ediyoruz. İfade özgürlüğü
teşvik edilmeli ve korunmalı ancak karşı çıkılan husus, bu özgürlüğün bazı kinci
faşistler tarafından kötü kullanılması.
Londra’da yayımlanan El Kuds El Arabi gazetesi Genel Yayın Yönetmeni, 6
Şubat 2006
Arapça’dan çeviri: Halil Çelik
AB nihayetAB’nin medya patronlarına
“Radikal yayınlardan kaçınmaları” yolunda ‘ültimatom’ vereceği öğrenildi.
Hayrettin Turan 09 Şubat 2006
www.turkiyegazetesi.com
Karikatür krizinin giderek büyümesi nihayet AB’yi harekete geçirdi.
Uluslararası kuruluşlarla ortak bir çalışma başlatma kararı alan AB, Dış
Politika Sorumlusu Javier Solana’yı İslam dünyasıyla görüşmek için
görevlendirdi. Norveç hükümeti de karikatürler için özür adımı atarken Orta
Doğu’daki Müslüman ülkelere bir heyet gönderme kararı aldı. Bu arada AB
yönetimi Medya patronlarıyla toplantı yapmak için girişim başlattı.
Solana devrede
AB Dönem Başkanı Avusturya’nın Dışişleri Bakanı Ursula Plassnik, birliğin
Ortak Güvenlik ve Dış Politika Yüksek Temsilcisi Javier Solana’nın, İslam
Konferansı Örgütü (İKÖ) ile görüşmek üzere Suudi Arabistan’a gitmekle
görevlendirildiğini bildirdi. Plassnik açıklamasında, şu andaki güç durumdan
kurtulabilmek ve şiddet eylemlerini sona erdirebilmek için uluslararası fikir
birliğine ihtiyaç duyulduğunu’’ kaydetti.
Norveç’ten özür
İKÖ Genel Sekreteri Prof. Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu ve örgütün diğer
yöneticileriyle görüşecek olan Solana’nın, İslam dünyasını rahatsız eden
karikatürlerin yayımlanmasından sonra başlayan şiddet olaylarının önüne
geçilebilmesi için ‘’uluslararası çözüm yolu bulunması için girişimlerde
bulunacağı’’ belirtildi.
Öte yandan Norveçli Müslümanlardan ve Norveç Devlet Kilisesi yetkililerinden
oluşan bir heyetin çok yakın bir zamanda Suudi Arabistan, Katar, Lübnan ve
Suriye’nin de aralarında bulunduğu ülkeleri ziyaret edeceği bildirildi. Norveç
Dışişleri Bakanlığı’ndan yapılan açıklamada, heyetin söz konusu ülkelere,
Norveç hükümetinin karikatürlerin yayımlanmasından dolayı bir özür mektubu
sunacağı belirtildi.
Ayrıca AB’li yetkililerin de, Peygamber Efendimizi hedef alan karikatürler
sebebiyle patlak veren öfkeyle ilgili olarak medya patronlarıyla bir görüşme
yapacağı açıklandı. AB’nin medya patronlarına “Radikal yayınlardan kaçınmaları”
yolunda ‘ültimatom’ vereceği öğrenildi.
İspanya Dışişleri Bakanı Miguel Angel Moratinos ise, “Başbakan Zapatero ve
Başbakan Erdoğan’ın ortak metinlerinde onayladıkları gibi, bugün hiç olmadığı
kadar acil ve gerekli olarak Medeniyetler İttifakı’nın uygulanmasına ihtiyaç
vardır” dedi.
Çözüm için ortak bildiri
İSTANBUL- Karikatür krizinin çözülmesi amacıyla Birleşmiş Milletler Genel
Sekreteri Kofi Annan, İslam Konferansı Örgütü Genel Sekreteri Ekmeleddin
İhsanoğlu ve Avrupa Birliği’nin dış politika temsilcisi Javier Solana, dün
ortak bir bildiri yayımlayarak sükunet çağrısı yaptı. Bildiride, yaşananların
farklı inançlara mensup topluluklar ve farklı ülkelerin yetkilileri arasında
acil şekilde diyaloğun yenilenmesi ihtiyacını ortaya koyduğu belirtilerek,
herkesin soğukkanlı ve sakin olması istendi. Bu arada, ABD Başkanı George Bush
da, krize dahil olan tüm tarafları görüşmeye davet etti. > Osman Sağırlı
>> Danimarka sabıkalı!
STRASBOURG - Karikatür kriziyle adı tarihe geçen Danimarka, topraklarında
yaşayan Müslümanlara yönelik ırkçı ve ayrımcı tutumu sebebiyle son yıllarda
bazı Avrupa kurumları tarafından da parmakla gösteriliyor. Yaşanan son kriz,
Strasbourg merkezli Avrupa Irkçılık ve Hoşgörüsüzlükle Mücadele Komisyonu’nun
(ECRI) 2001 yılında Danimarka hakkında yayımladığı bir raporu yeniden gündeme
taşıdı. Bir Avrupa Konseyi organı olan komisyonun söz konusu raporunda,
Danimarka’da yaşayan Müslümanların özellikle ırkçılık ve ayrımcılık mağduru
oldukları vurgulanmıştı. Raporda, aralarında politikacılar, medya mensupları
ve aydınların bulunduğu bazı grupların, İslam dini üzerine yanlış ve aşırı
düşüncelerin yayılmasında başı çektiğine de işaret edilmişti. Raporda,
Danimarka’dan bu probleme çözüm bulması için acele tedbir alması da istenmiş,
Danimarka hükûmetiyse rapordaki bu eleştirileri o dönem cevapsız bırakmıştı.
Alanında Avrupa’nın referans kuruluşu olan ECRI, Danimarka hakkında bugünlerde
ikinci bir rapor daha hazırlıyor. Bu arada, İnternet korsanları, İslam
dünyasını rahatsız eden karikatürleri protesto etmek ve tehdit mesajları
göndermek için Danimarka’nın yaklaşık 600 internet sitesini ‘’hackledi’’.
>> Protestolarda 4 kişi daha öldü
KABİL- İslam dünyasında karikatürlere tepkiler sürerken, Afganistan’da çıkan
olaylarda 4 kişi öldü. Kalad kentindeki ABD üssüne yürümek isteyen yaklaşık
500 göstericinin üzerine polisin ateş açması üzerine çıkan kargaşada, 10 kişi
de yaralandı. Olayların büyümesi üzerine din adamları meclisi, eylemlere son
verilmesi çağrısı yaptı. Afganistan’da beşinci gününe giren protestolarda, 10
sivil hayatını kaybetti. Endonezya’da, durum daha sakindi. Karikatürleri
protesto amacıyla Hilafet Meclisi adlı bir grup tarafından Surabaya’da
düzenlenen gösteriye, yaklaşık 1000 kişi katıldı. Bosna-Hersek’in başkenti
Saraybosna’da da, yaklaşık 700 kişi, Norveç, Fransız ve Danimarka
büyükelçiliklerine yürüdü. Göstericiler, Danimarka hükümetinin özür dilemesini
ve Danimarka ürünlerinin boykot edilmesini istedi.
Birleşik Arap Emirlikleri’nde de bir üniversitede görevli Amerikalı kadın
profesör, sözde karikatürlerin kopyalarını öğrencilerine dağıtınca işten
atıldı.
>> Türkiye’de de öfke dinmiyor
İSTANBUL / ANKARA- Memur-Sen İstanbul İl Başkanlığı Sultanbeyli’de çeşitli
siyasi parti ve sivil toplum kuruluşlarının katılımı ile Peygamber Efendimize
yapılan çirkin saldırıyı protesto etti. Memur- Sen adına açıklama yapan
İstanbul İl Sekreteri Ali Yalçın, “Basın özgürlüğünü inançlarımıza ve
değerlerimize hakarette kalkan olarak kullananların yaptıkları bu çirkeflik,
pardon ile geçiştirilemeyecek kadar büyük bir pisliktir” dedi. Yalçın,
“Sabrımızı taşırmayın. Yapılan bu saygısızlıktan dolayı en üst düzeyde
Müslümanlardan özür dileyin. Yoksa bugün bütün Müslüman ülkelerde gösterilen
tepkilerin önünü alamazsınız. Bilerek ya da bilmeyerek fitillediğiniz ateş
büyür ve bu ateş korkarım sizi yakar” diye konuştu. Bütün Müslümanları, başta
Danimarka ve Norveç olmak üzere, bu çirkinliğe destek veren veya göz yuman
ülkelerin mallarını boykot etmeye çağıran açıklamada; iş adamları da bu
ülkelerle yaptıkları ticari anlaşmaları tekrar gözden geçirmeye ve bu duyarlı
halkın öfke ve tepkisini onlara aktarmaya davet edildi.
Ankara’da da ülkü ocaklarına mensup yaklaşık bin kişi, Danimarka
Büyükelçiliği’ne siyah çelenk bıraktı. Ankara Ülkü Ocakları Başkanı Alıcı,
Hazreti Muhammed’e hakaret içeren karikatürlerin Avrupa ülkelerinde
yayınlanmasını kınadıklarını ifade ederek, “Bu karikatürler, Avrupa’nın kendi
dışındaki kültürlere ait değer ve mukaddeslere ilişkin bakış açısını da
göstermektedir” dedi. > Cüneyt Bitikçioğlu
İSTANBUL - Devlet Bakanı ve Başmüzakereci Ali Babacan, Hz. Muhammed’e (SAV)
hakaret eden sözde karikatürlerin ve yayınların ifade özgürlüğü olarak tarif
edilemeyeceğini söyledi. İktisadi Kalkınma Vakfı (İKV) tarafından düzenlenen
“Müzakere Sürecinin Olmazsa Olmaz Aracı Düzenleyici Etki Analizleri”
seminerinin açılışında konuşan Babacan, “Avrupa’daki bazı medya kuruluşları
tarafından yayınlanan ve Müslümanların peygamberine açıkça hakaret eden
karikatürler infial oluşturmuştur. Bir dinin peygamberine, 1 milyarı aşkın
nüfusuyla İslam dünyasının sonsuz saygı duyduğu en kutsal varlığa hakaret
etmek, sanırım ifade özgürlüğü kavramının arkasına sığınılarak izah edilemez.
Kaldı ki biz bütün semavi dinlerin peygamberlerini severiz, saygı duyarız ve
hiçbirine de hakaret edilmesine sessiz, duyarsız kalamayız” dedi.
Geçmişte de oldu
Provokatif yayınların yapılmasının ve bir gerilim unsuru olarak sıcak
tutulmasının üzüntü verici olduğunu kaydeden Babacan, tepki gösterirken
yakmaya, yıkmaya, vahşete asla tolerans gösterilmemesi gerektiğini de
belirtti. Demokratik sistemlerde tepkinin nasıl verileceğini bilmek ve buna
dikkat etmek gerekir” diyen Babacan, geçmişte de hem yayınlar hem de verilen
tepkiler bakımından tatsız tecrübelere şahit olduklarını vurguladı. Babacan,
şöyle konuştu: “Şimdi senaryonun tekrar ediliyor olmasından büyük
rahatsızlık duyuyoruz. Son günlerde yaşadığımız tatsız olaylar, Doğu ile
Batı arasındaki birbirini anlama çabalarına da ciddi bir darbe vurmuş
durumda. Medeniyetlerin buluşması, medeniyetlerin ittifakı, medeniyetlerin
barışı gibi çalışmalar umutlarımızı artırarak devam ederken, bu türden yol
kazalarının yaşanması hepimizi derinden etkilemiştir.” Dünya tarihine
bakıldığında savaş, çatışma ve terör için çok kolay bahaneler
üretilebildiğini, toplulukları, halkları, devletleri ve medeniyetleri
birbirine düşürmenin gerçekten çok kolay bir iş olduğunun görüldüğünü
söyleyen Babacan, farklılıkları taşıyarak, dinleri, kültürleri ve
medeniyetleri ayrıştırarak, kan akıtmanın ne kadar basit olduğunu,
insanlığın tarihi yaşayarak öğrendiğini söyledi.
WASHINGTON- ABD, İslam dünyasını sarsan karikatür krizinde Türkiye’nin
tutumunu ‘sorumlu ve barışçı’ olarak nitelendirerek övdü. ABD Dışişleri Bakan
Yardımcısı Dan Fried, krize ilişkin olarak hem Türk halkının tutumunun, hem de
Başbakan Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’ın yaklaşımının örnek olması gerektiğini söyledi.
Fried, “Müslüman geleneklere sahip olan Türkiye’de insanlar, karikatürleri
hakaret olarak görmekle birlikte, bunun saldırılar düzenlemek ve sağı solu
yakmak için bahane oluşturamayacağını düşünüyor. Demokrasisi, özgür basını ve
giderek daha hoşgörülü bir kamuoyuyla Türkiye, İslam dünyasındaki ateşi de
sona erdirebilir” dedi. Fried, karikatür krizinin Türkiye’nin AB’ye üyelik
sürecine zarar vereceğini sanmadığını da sözlerine ekledi.
Nihayet ortak
inisiyatif
AB, İKÖ ve BM ortak bir açıklamayla Hz. Muhammed
karikatürlerini de, protestoların şiddete dökülmesini de kınadı. Ama bu kez
Danimarka'nın sanal âlemdeki en az 600 sitesi çökertildi
09/02/2006 (146 kişi okudu)
www.radikal.com.tr
BRÜKSEL - Batılı gazeteler Hz. Muhammed karikatürü yayımlama inadından
vazgeçmezken, BM, AB ile İslam Konferansı Örgütü (İKÖ) hem ifade özgürlüğü hem
dini değerlere saygı çağrısı yaptı. Ancak İslam âlemindeki dinmeyen tepkiye bu
kez de sanal âlemde Danimarka'nın en az 600 web sitesinin 'hack'lenmesi
eklendi.
Dün BM Genel Sekreteri Kofi Annan, AB Yüksek Temsilcisi Javier Solana ve İKÖ
Genel Sekreteri Ekmelettin İhsanoğlu'nun ortak açıklamasında, "İfade
özgürlüğünü bütünüyle destekliyoruz. Fakat İslam dünyasındaki derin üzüntü ve
yaygın infiali anlıyoruz. Son şiddet olayları barışçı tepki sınırlarını aştı.
Diplomatik temsilciliklere saldırıları şiddetle kınıyoruz. Saldırganlık sadece
barışçı İslam görünümüne zarar verebilir" denildi.
AB, İKÖ ile görüşmeler yapması için Solana'yı Cidde'ye gönderiyor. Dönem
Başkanı Avusturya, ziyareti "Şiddeti önlemek için uluslararası fikir birliği
arıyoruz" diye duyurup Arap Birliği ve Körfez İşbirliği Konseyi ile temaslar
olacağını belirtti. Norveç de Müslüman cemaatten bir heyeti özür mektubuyla
birlikte Ortadoğu'ya gönderiyor.
ABD Başkanı George Bush, Britanya Başbakanı Tony Blair ve Fransa Cumhurbaşkanı
Jacques Chirac, Şam, Beyrut ve Tahran'da elçilikleri yakılan Danimarka'nın
Başbakanı Anders Fogh Rasmussen'e telefonla destek verdi. Bush, "Hükümetleri
şiddeti durdurup masum diplomatları korumaya çağırıyorum" derken, Rusya Devlet
Başkanı Vladimir Putin, Kopenhag'ı özür dilemeye çağırıp, "Çocuk pornosunu
kınarken ifade özgürlüğünün ardına saklanmıyoruz" dedi.
Chirac basına çattı
Son olarak Fransa'nın haftalık mizah dergisi Charlie-Hebdo Hz. Muhammed
karikatürlerini yeniden basarken, Chirac, editörlere "Provokasyonları
kınıyorum" diye yüklendi. Karikatürlerin basıldığı ilk ülke olan Danimarka'nın
yaklaşık 600 web sitesi ise 'hack'lendi. Web sitelerine yönelik saldırıları
izleyen Zone-H'ya göre, Danimarka dışındaki sitelerin de 'hack'lenmesi halinde
bu sayı bine ulaşabilir. İlginçtir, çökertilen siteler arasında Danimarka
hükümeti ve karikatürleri ilk yayımlayan gazete Jyllands-Posten yok.
Sitelerin geligüzel seçilerek çökertildiği sanılıyor. Bir sayfaya yanlış
İngilizce imlayla 'Danimarkalılar, öldünüz' yazısı çıkarken, fotoğrafçı Thomas
Jorgensen'in yönettiği siteye Danimarka bayrağına sarılmış bir kuklanın
boynundan asılmış görüntüsü konuldu. Solcu yayımevi Informationsforlag'ın web
sitesine Arapça ve İngilizce olarak 'Allahu Ekber, Cihad yolumuzdur' mesajı
bırakıldı.
Afganistan'da ABD üssüne yürüyenlere ateş açılınca dört kişi öldü. Endonezya,
Keşmir, Bangladeş gösterilerle sarsılırken, Filistin'in El Halil kentinde
Avrupa gözlem misyonu basıldı. (Dış Haberler)
Özgürlüğün sınırı tanımlanmalı
Turan YILMAZ-Hasan TÜFEKÇİ/ANKARA 9 Şubat
2006
www.hurriyet.com.tr
Erdoğan, İslam dünyası ile Batı’yı karşı karşıya getiren karikatür krizine
değinirken, "Sınırsız özgürlük var mıdır? Önce bunun tanımı yapılmalı" dedi.
BAŞBAKAN Tayyip Erdoğan, özgürlüklere ’karikatür kriteri’
getirileceğinin mesajını verdi. Erdoğan, "Özgürlüklerin sınırsız olmadığını,
önce bunun tanımının yapılması gerektiğini" belirterek, Türkiye’de buna
yönelik süreci başlatma düşüncesinde olduğunu söyledi. Erdoğan, bu
konudaki çarpıcı açıklamayı, Arap dünyasının CNN’i diye nitelenen El Cezire’ye
dün akşam verdiği mülakatta yaptı.
ÖZGÜRLÜĞÜN SINIRI
Hürriyet’in edindiği bilgiye göre, İslam dünyası ile Batı’yı karşı karşıya
getiren karikatür krizine değinirken, "Sınırsız özgürlük var mıdır?
Önce bunun tanımı yapılmalı. Bunun tanımı yapılmadığı sürece bundan sonra
da kişilerin, toplumların ve inanç gruplarının özgürlüğüne tasallut eden gruplar
ortaya çıkacaktır" dedi.
SINIRLAR BELİRLENMELİ
"Önce bunu halletmeliyiz" diyen Erdoğan, ardından da Türkiye’ye
yönelik önemli bir mesaj vererek, "Ülkemde buna yönelik süreci başlatma
düşüncesindeyim. Her alanda bir sınır var ve önce bu belirlenmeli,
tanımları yapılmalı ve o sınırda durulmalı" diye konuştu.
BM’YE İSLAM FOBİA RAPORU
Erdoğan, karikatür krizine ilişkin de önemli mesajlar verdi. Anti semitizmin
insanlık suçu sayıldığını anımsatan Erdoğan, aynı şeyin İslam fobia için
de geçerli olması gerektiğini söyledi. Erdoğan, bu konuda çalışma
yaptıklarını da belirterek, bu çalışmanın sonuçlarını BM ile paylaşacaklarını da
bildirdi.
CUMA NAMAZI UYARISI
Erdoğan, karikatür kriziyle ilgili İslam ülkelerindeki gösterileri
değerlendirirken de, özellikle ’Cuma uyarısı’nda bulundu. Cuma
namazlarının istismar edilmemesi gerektiğini belirten Erdoğan, "Adımlar
bilinçli atılsın, kimse zarar görmesin" mesajını verdi.
Danimarka krizi idare edemedi
MODEL BM toplantısına konuşmacı olarak katılan 9. Cumhurbaşkanı Süleyman
Demirel, "Karikatür krizi talihsiz bir olaydır" dedi. Türkiye’nin AB’ye "muhakkak"
gireceğini, AB’nin bunun için söz verdiğini belirten Demirel, "İslamın ve
Hıristiyanlığın ortak noktaları bulunuyor. İki din de barışçı dinlerdir. Bunlara
dikkat etmek gerekir. Karikatür krizini Danimarka hatalı idare etmiştir" dedi.
AB ve İKÖ’nün kriz işbirliği
9 Şubat 2006 www.hurriyet.com.tr
Danimarka’da yayınlanan Hz Muhammed karikatürlerinin dünya çapında yarattığı
infialin ardından olayların büyümesi üzerine, Avrupa Birliği ve İslam Konferansı
Örgütü birlikte hareket etme kararı aldı.
Dün de Afganistan’daki bir mitingte dört kişinin ölmesiyle İslam ülkelerinde
gerçekleşen protesto gösterilerinde hayatlarını kaybedenlerin sayısı 13’e
yükseldi. Tırmanan kriz üzerine, AB ve İKÖ’nün, önceki gün Birleşmiş Milletler’i
de yanlarına alarak yayınladığı ortak "uyarı" bildirisinin ardından, dün de iki
örgütün daha etkin bir politika güdeceğinin sinyali verildi. Buna göre AB Dış
Politika Şefi Javier Solana, gelecek hafta Ortadoğu’ya giderek bizzat temaslarda
bulunacak.
Dün bir açıklama yayınlayan Solana, karikatür krizinin Müslüman ve Müslüman
olmayan dünya arasındaki ilişkileri ciddi biçimde yaralayabileceğini belirterek,
"AB vatandaşları ve Arap dünyası vatandaşları arasındaki ilişkiler yıllar boyu
süren büyük çabalarla geliştirildi. Bu ilişkilerle oynanmasına izin vermemeliyiz"
dedi. Solana, pazar veya pazartesi günü başlatacağı gezisinden önce Suudi
Arabistan’ın başkenti Cidde’de İKÖ Başkanı Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu ile görüşecek.
Solana, Mısır, Ürdün ve Filistin’de de siyasi liderlerle bir araya gelecek.
Solana ve İhsanoğlu, BM Genel Sekreteri Kofi Annan ile birlikte önceki gün
imzaladıkları ortak bildiride, "İfade özgürlüğü hakkını destekliyoruz. Ama İslam
dünyasında oluşan derin acı ve öfkeyi de anlayabiliyoruz" ifadesi kullanılmıştı.
09.02.2006 PERŞEMBE
www.zaman.com.tr
Arınç'dan, AB ülkelerinin meclis
başkanlarına mektup
TBMM Başkanı Bülent Arınç, karikatür kriziyle
ilgili olarak, AB üyesi ülkelere ve karikatürün yayımlandığı Ürdün ile Yeni
Zelanda'nın parlamento başkanlarına mektup gönderdi.
The
United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, Kofi Annan,
Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) Secretary-General Ekmeleddin
Ihsanoglu and the European Union (EU) Common Foreign Policy and Security
High Representative, Javier Solana, will call on the international community for
"calm" to bring an end to the incidents caused by the publication of cartoons
insulting Islam's Prophet Mohammed. 