Honourable Fellow Citizens of the Muslim World
Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten is a strong
proponent of democracy and freedom of religion. The newspaper respects
the right of any human being to practise his or her religion. Serious
misunderstandings in respect of some drawings of the Prophet Muhammad
have led to much anger and, lately, also boycott of Danish goods in
Muslim countries.
Please allow me to correct these misunderstandings.
On September 30 last year, Morgenavisen
Jyllands-Posten published 12 different cartoonists’ idea of what the
Prophet Muhammad might have looked like. The initiative was taken as
part of an ongoing public debate on freedom of expression, a freedom
much cherished in Denmark.
In our opinion, the 12 drawings were sober. They were
not intended to be offensive, nor were they at variance with Danish law,
but they have indisputably offended many Muslims for which we apologise.
Since then a number of offensive drawings have
circulated in the Middle East which have never been published in
Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten and which we would never have published
had they been offered to us. We would have refused to publish them on
the grounds that they violated our ethical code.
Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten attaches importance
to upholding the highest ethical standards based upon the respect of our
fundamental values. It is so much more deplorable, therefore, that these
drawings were presented as if they had anything to do with
Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten.
Maybe because of culturally based misunderstandings,
the initiative to publish the 12 drawings has been interpreted as a
campaign against Muslims in Denmark and the rest of the world.
I must categorically dismiss such an interpretation.
Because of the very fact that we are strong proponents of the freedom of
religion and because we respect the right of any human being to practise
his or her religion, offending anybody on the grounds of their religious
beliefs is unthinkable to us.
That this happened was, consequently, unintentional.
As a result of the debate that has been going on
about the drawings we have met with representatives of Danish Muslims
and these meetings were held in a positive and constructive spirit. We
have also sought in other ways to initiate a fruitful dialogue with
Danish Muslims.
It is the wish of Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten
that various ethnic groups should live in peace and harmony with each
other and that the debates and disagreements which will always exist in
a dynamic society should do so in an atmosphere of mutual respect.
For that reason, Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten
has published many articles describing the positive aspects of
integration, for example in a special supplement entitled The
Contributors. It portrayed a number of Muslims who have had success in
Denmark. The supplement was rewarded by the EU Commission.
Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten takes exception to
symbolic acts suited to demonise specific nationalities, religions and
ethnic groups.
Sincerely yours,
Carsten Juste
Editor-in-Chief
(http://www.jp.dk/meninger/artikel:aid=3527646/)