16 April 2008
 
ISLAMABAD - Pakistani parliament on Tuesday condemned the internet release of anti-Islam film by a Dutch lawmaker and the reprinting of Mohammed caricatures in Danish newspapers.

The condemnation came through a resolution unanimously passed by the lower house of the parliament.

"The house strongly condemns the release of an offensive and derogatory documentary on Islam entitled Fitna by the Dutch parliamentarian Geert Wilders - and the publication of the sacrilegious and shameful sketches of Holy Prophet in the newspapers of Denmark," said information minister Sheri Rehman.

The 16-minute film mixes Koran verses interpreted as calling on Muslims to attack and destroy enemies of the faith with the video footage of terrorist acts against Western countries, claiming a link between the two.

The minister said these acts of defamation and incitement to hatred not only deeply hurt the sentiments of Muslims all over the world but also threatens the stability of many societies.

She called on United Nations to take all necessary legal, political and administrative steps to curb this trend and ensure the respect for all religions in these societies.

"Such acts are in violation of international law including the UN Charter, as well as the domestic laws of the countries where these sacrilegious acts are carried out," Rehamn said.

Leading Danish newspapers republished 12 cartoons depicting the Muslim prophet Mohammed in February after Danish police said they had averted an alleged plot to murder the cartoonist Kurt Westergaard.

The cartoons sparked violent protest by Muslims worldwide and triggered a boycott of Danish goods when first published in 2006.

[dpa / Expatica]