Abdel Hammas (Manchester, UK), 10 February 2006

on The Reactions Are Themselves Caricatures, by Raja Ben Salama

Raja Ben Salama has ignored many issues on the cartoons subject.

As a Muslim, these cartoons are not offending but the message behind them are. Portraying Islam as violent and terrorising is not acceptable.

Europe is supposed to promote harmony with their local ethnic communities. This is the way forward, not depicting the prophet Muslims believe in.

Offending other people's religion should be made an offence, it is racism and ignorance.

Raja Ben Salama doesn't live in Europe or worst in Denmark, so she doesn't have the knowledge the about the real issues Muslims live in.

I am very disappointed at her views about Marx and others, since those do not insult Islam or its prophet directly.

These cartoons have escalated the Muslim/West divide by ignorant and irresponsible media.

The media in Europe feel free to attack Muslims in portraying them as terrorists but are not allowed to depict Jews or Israeli's policies in Middle East or express doubt about the Holocaust for fear to be accused of anti-Semitism. This is a sign of the media's double standards, or is it selective freedom of press?

The Guardian in Britain has revealed recently that the same Danish newspapers has previously refused to publish cartoons of Jesus in fear of offending his readers. How hypocritical is this?

Muslims around the world have the right to express their anger peacefully and the Europeans to feel responsible for not taking this issue seriously and the media to be responsible in their approach in the future towards their own Muslim communities and the leaders to take firm actions on those ignorant elements in stirring up race hatred.

Abdel Hammas
Manchester UK