Brunei Parties Join Global Islamic Outcry
By Rosli Abidin Yahya

Bandar Seri Begawan - The public outrage against European newspapers spread to Brunei Darussalam yesterday after they published cartoons which Muslims said insulted Islam and humiliated Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

Two political parties, the National Development Party (NDP) and Brunei National Solidarity Party (PPKB) sent their protest statements to Weekend Bulletin after the French tabloid France Soir on Wednesday reprinted cartoons originally published by Danish daily Jyllands-Posten last September.

Newspapers in France, Germany, Spain, Switzerland and Hungary have also reprinted the caricatures this week, saying press freedom was more important than the protests and boycotts they have provoked.

Muslims consider any images of the Prophet to be blasphemous.

The deputy president of NDP Mahmud Morshidi Othman said the party regretted and protested strongly the move made by the Danish Daily in publishing 12 series of cartoons that humiliated Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

"At a time when Muslims worldwide were pressured and challenged with various issues that touched on their beliefs and integrity, they were faced with the ill-mannered attitude of Danish newspapers Jyllands-Posten which published 12 series of cartoons last September which were re-published by a magazine in Norway in early January.

"A move has been taken by the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) and Arab League which met last Jan 30 in Jeddah urging the United Nations (UN) to interfere by passing a resolution to protect religion.

"The party hoped such resolution could be passed to protect future attacks on religion," he said.

He said NDP suggested the formation of International Relationship and Peace as a platform for peace, civilisation and religious dialogue.

PPKB meanwhile said it officially protested on the publication of caricatures desecrating Prophet Muhammad (SAW) which was republished by European newspapers recently.

The protest statement was signed by Emran Sahari, the Head of Foreign Bureau, Pg Janudin Pg Hj Jaya, the Head of Information and Technology Bureau and Hj Rabaie Hj Metali, the head of Religious Bureau.

"The caricatures deliberately humiliated Prophet Muhammad (SAW), the revered prophet and leader of the Muslim Ummah worldwide.

"PPKB whose members uphold the Islamic religion as their way of life and belief unanimously protested on the said publications.

"We called upon Danish daily Jyllands-Posten to accept full responsibility towards the desecration and the Islamic Ummah globally must unite in condemning the paper.

"PPKB will send a protest letter to the Danish Diplomatic Representative or embassy wherever it may it may be based, they said. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

Click Here To Have Your Say On This Story

Brudirect.com News

Brunei's Fastest Growing Website with