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French paper reprints Danish Mohammad cartoons

PARIS (Reuters) - A French newspaper reprinted on Wednesday a series of 12 Danish newspaper cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammad that have sparked protests in the Muslim world and prompted Saudi Arabia to recall its ambassador from Denmark. 

The France Soir daily said it had published the cartoons in the name of freedom of expression and to fight religious intolerance, saying a secular country like France could not be bound by the precepts of any religion. 

There was no immediate reaction from Muslim leaders in France, which is home to the largest Islamic minority in Europe. 

"The publication of 12 cartoons in the Danish press has shocked the Muslim world for whom the representation of Allah and his prophet is banned," France Soir said in a front page comment below one of the controversial drawings. 

"But because no religious dogma can impose its view on a democratic and secular society, France Soir publishes the incriminated cartoons," it said. 

Under a headline "Yes, we have the right to caricature God", the paper ran a front page cartoon with Buddha, the Christian and Jewish Gods and the Prophet Mohammad sitting on a cloud above Earth, with the Christian God saying: "Don't complain Mohammad, we've all been caricatured here."


Comments

Jason Pappas said…
The French always come through in the end.
February 02, 2006 12:56 AM
Mare Nostrum said…
There have been drawings and paintings of Mohammad for hundreds of years.
http://www.zombietime.com/mohammed_image_archive/

This is just an excuse to start a new war/fight.
February 03, 2006 2:22 AM
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