South African Muslims have demanded an apology from the Danish government for the publication in one of its newspapers of 12 cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad.
The South African organisation, United Muslims, also demanded the ”reproach” of the editor of the newspaper, Jyllands-Posten, in a memorandum handed to Denmark’s ambassador to South African during a protest outside its embassy in Pretoria on Friday.
Demonstrating during a heavy afternoon downpour, the group called for the implementation of measures to restore and defend the religious dignity and sensitivity of all faith-based communities in Denmark.
Accepting the memorandum, ambassador Torben Brylle emphasised that Denmark has no anti-Islam policy or stance.
”There are many rumours going around now … Denmark is not anti-Islam,” Brylle said. ”We want to interact, explain our position and maintain dialogue. We need mutual respect.”
A similar march was held in Cape Town on Thursday.
The protest was monitored by police officers in riot gear on guard at the entrance to the embassy, and three police vehicles on the street with the marchers. There were also 60 marshals and three paramedics on stand-by.
”We support democracy and freedom of speech, but should that freedom of speech be at the expense of 1,5-billion people worldwide?” asked march spokesperson Muhammed Nur Nordien.
He said South African Muslims found the cartoons blasphemous and provocative in the extreme.
The marchers included men and women of all ages. Most of the women were wearing hijabs and the men the robes they wore to their Friday prayers.
Some carried placards reading: ”Mohammad equals peace not terrorism”, ”Mockery of religious beliefs is oppression”, ”Cartoons equal Islamophobia” and ”Death to those who disrespect our beloved”. One of the posters appealed for a boycott of Danish products.
Earlier this week, police said they would increase surveillance at Scandinavian embassies in Pretoria.
On Thursday, thousands marched in protest in Cape Town. The Muslim Judicial Council organised the march, which police estimated was attended by 30 000 people. It was the first mass South African response as worldwide condemnation of the cartoons gathered momentum.
Protests worldwide against the cartoons have often been violent with the burning of flags and some deaths — notably those of four Afghans fired at by police outside a United States base. — Sapa