Washington, 13 January (WashingtonTV)
Iran on Wednesday condemned a Norwegian newspaper for publishing reproductions of cartoons depicting the Muslim Prophet Muhammad.“These types of events are contrary to religious values which are respected by divine religions,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Ramin Mehmanparast, was quoted as saying by the official IRNA news agency.
He said that the publication of the cartoons was “provocative” and “inconsistent” with many international laws and treaties.
“The pretext of freedom of expression cannot be used to justify insulting the beliefs of one and half billion Muslims,” Mehmanparast said.
“It will not help in [promoting] understanding among nations and world peace,” Mehmanparast said.
In an article on Kurt Westergaard, the author of one of the cartoons, the Norwegian daily, Aftenposten, printed small versions of six out of the 12 drawings that outraged Muslims around the world when they were first published by a Danish newspaper in 2005, reports AFP.
The cartoons are believed to have led to an attack on Westergaard.
Referring to the attack, Aftenposten’s editor said it seemed “natural and justified to republish the artistic and journalistic body of work that is likely the cause of this violence,” reports AFP.
