DENMARK: Danish Imam challenges Denmark over cartoons

Record ID: 571011

  • Title: DENMARK: Danish Imam challenges Denmark over cartoons
  • Date: 9th February 2006
  • Summary: PICTURE OF IMAN ABU-LABAN IN NEWSPAPER
  • Embargoed: 24th February 2006 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Denmark
  • Country: Denmark
  • Topics: International Relations,Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVA81J9A1KGKM6TCBDAC7H6WD6Q7
  • Story Text: Denmark's government, accusing some local imams of whipping up anti-Danish anger in the Middle East over cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed, said on Wednesday (February 8) it would exclude them from talks on ethnic minority integration.
    But a leading imam in Copenhagen said he would welcome a move to expel him from Denmark, if that was what the country's courts decided was best.
    Imam Ahmed Abu Laban has been instrumental in the criticism of Jyllands-Posten, the newspaper which first printed the images of the Prophet Mohammed, and has also railed against the Danish government.
    "This is a country of law and order. I am 60 years of age. I live to my responsibility. I trust the judicial system here in the west as independent. I came in a legal way. I behave in a legal way. If someone would like to take me as responsible or somebody else, I'm ready for any court. Why not? Expulsion is not a bad idea. If people, they feel that I do bad to this country let them bring the good people to help them with immigrants," said Imam Ahmed Abu Laban.
    Denmark, where a newspaper first published the collection of cartoons last year, has felt the brunt of Muslim fury over the issue. But other European countries, including France and Spain, have also been criticised for republishing the images.
    Denmark is home to around 180,000 Muslims, giving it one of Europe's smaller Muslim communities.
    Publishing images of the Prophet is deemed offensive by many Muslims. The cartoons published by Jyllands-Posten and reprinted across Europe included one showing him wearing a turban shaped like a bomb.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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