EU Statement on Mohammed Cartoons Lukewarm
February 27, 2006, 7:09 pm |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
By Andrew L. Jaffee
The EU has once again kowtowed to angry Muslim reactions to the Mohammed cartoons, but is improving its stance at least a little. It got a head start on February 10, when:
…EU Justice and Security Commissioner Franco Frattini said the charter [media code of conduct] would encourage the media to show “prudence” when covering religion.
“The press will give the Muslim world the message: We are aware of the consequences of exercising the right of free expression,” he told the newspaper. “We can and we are ready to self-regulate that right.”
Sounds like submission to me.
Today’s statement from the EU was a little better. First, the good news:
…the ministers also defended freedom of speech and condemned the violent response to the cartoons. …
“The Council [of EU member states] expresses its deep concern at the events that followed the publication of cartoons in a number of European and other media,” the ministers’ statement says. …
Diplomats said that at least one country, the Netherlands, had at first opposed the decision to express “regret”.
The Czech government was also reported to be concerned that apologising would undermine the freedom fo the media. …
In a reference to boycotts of Danish products by some Muslims, the ministers’ said “boycotts against individual member states are unacceptable”.
Now, the submissive, bad news:
“The Council acknowledges and regrets that these cartoons were considered offensive and distressing by Muslims across the world.” …
“Freedom of expression should be exercised in a spirit of respect for religious and other beliefs and convictions. Mutual tolerance and respect are universal values we should all uphold,” they said. …
Denmark has sought to calm Muslim anger by promising to hold a religious conference, donate money to a UN agency fighting prejudice and stage a Muslim cultural exhibition.
And just how many times has appeasement worked?
Special Report: Danish Cartoons
Share with others (social networking, bookmarking, find related):
Sphere It
Technorati: View blog reactions
Furl This
Fav bookmarking service not in the above list? It's definitely in this drop-down:
Categories, Tags: Arab/Muslim World, Islam, Political Correctness
Trackback: http://netwmd.com/blog/2006/02/27/419/trackback/
Comments feed: RSS 2.0
Subscribe to netWMD:
FeedBurner