Denmark: Demonstration 'to protect Denmark'

A new group popped up in Denmark in the past couple of days. Calling itself "Muslims in Denmark" (Muslimer i Danmark), it claims to represent a group of moderate Muslim centers, mosques and associations.

On Friday they will test their democratic strength by conducting a peaceful demonstration in front of the parliament, where they will call on politicians to reject the "blasphemous cartoons of the prophet Muhammed."

The movement's spokesperson Adel Hassan Boshehri, says the aim is to prevent a new crisis and an eventual terrorist attack against Denmark.

"We want a dialog with the responsible politicians and call them to activate the blasphemy paragraph to ensure that the world's Muslims aren't offended again by blasphemous Muhammed cartoons. Or we fear that our beloved Denmark, that we will also fight to protect, will become a victim for extremists, that will abuse the conflict to destroy the land in all possible methods, in the worst case with a terror attack."

He adds that several thousands of Muslims for all social and religious groups will meet up for the "preemptive" demonstration on Friday, but calls on ethnic Danes to also meet in front of parliament.

"It's very important that we do everything that we can to lessen the tensions between the population groups, that can cause hate and enmity." He says that at the same time they will show that they protect freedom of speech, but reject mockery and ridicule of religion.

Danish imam Abdul Wahid Pedersen doubts whether he'll join the protest. He says he doesn't believe such protests help. If there's bad weather, they will just get wet. Instead he calls for a worthwhile debate to discuss the limits when Danish companies and soldier abroad are endangered every time newspapers publish satiric cartoons here.

Source: Nyhedsavisen (Danish)