AMMAN -- Muslim scholars on Monday criticised the violent reaction in some Muslim countries over the publication of cartoons vilifying the Prophet Mohammad in a Danish newspaper.
The scholars called for a dialogue with Danish people to defuse the crisis, but stressed it would not mean an automatic end to the current boycott of Danish products.
"We need to make it clear that the Prophet Mohammad is a red line that cannot be crossed," said Habib Jafari, a Muslim scholar who took part in a joint press conference of Muslim religious leaders in Amman.
The meeting of the clerics in Amman is part of an international tour to promote a declaration on behalf of around 90 Muslim religious leaders in an attempt to calm the situation.
The religious leaders emphasised that freedom of opinion should be restricted when it comes to holy symbols in any religion.
"Our religion grants us the freedom of opinion, but under the control of the law," said Mohammad Buti, a Syrian Islamic scientist.
The clerics' statement calls on the international community to press the United Nations to issue a declaration criminalising any insult to the Prophet Mohammad or any other revered prophet.
"We affirm here that the freedom of ideas is a right guaranteed by the teachings of our noble religion to those who seek clarification or desire to engage in dialogue provided that no abuse is intended, in consonance with the Koranic directive," said the declaration.
"We also extend this call to the countries that defended this attack, as there is no society today that advocates an unaccountable freedom without putting in place regulatory measures to prevent harm to others."
The scholars also called on the Muslim nation to exercise self-restraint in accordance with the teachings of Islam.
"We reject countering an act of aggression by acts not sanctioned in Islam, such as breaking treaties and breaching time honoured agreements by attacking foreign embassies or innocent people and other targets. Such violent reactions can lead to a distortion of the just and balanced nature of our request," said the statement.
The scholars also praised those Western governments that had opposed the publication of the cartoons.
The Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten originally printed the cartoons last fall, which have since been widely reprinted in Europe by papers to demonstrate that freedom of the press trumps religious prohibitions.
The cartoons have sparked protests around the world, resulting in numerous deaths.
By Mohammad Ben Hussein
© Jordan Times 2006
