Danish Newspaper Apologizes Over Mohamed Cartoons

Perhaps they will be killed last.

Politiken issued the apology after settling with a Saudi lawyer representing eight Muslim groups that complained after the cartoon was reprinted by 11 Danish papers in solidarity with the cartoonist Kurt Westergaard, who received death threats last year.

Outrage at the move was led by Denmark’s Prime Minister and by Mr Westergaard, 74, who survived an alleged assassination attempt by an Islamic axeman at his home last month.

Politiken responded that it was apologising for the offence caused, not the decision to publish, in an attempt to reduce tensions with the Muslim world.

...In a statement, Politiken said that it “recognises and deplores” that Muslims were offended by the caricature. “We apologise to anyone who was offended by our decision to reprint the cartoon drawing,” it said.

Toeger Seidenfaden, the Politiken editor in chief, added that the paper was apologising for the offence caused by the cartoon, not the decision to reprint it. “We have the right to print Kurt Westergaard's drawings, we have the right to print the original 12 drawings, we have the right to print all the caricatures in the world,” he said. “We apologise for the offence which the reprint has caused. That is what we apologise for.”

He said that Politiken considered the statement a “unique chance” to foster dialogue on the issue and reduce tensions between Denmark and the Muslim world.

Yes, the chance to sell out core values to thugs is "unique" and apparently must be taken whenever one has the chance.

The other newspapers who ran the cartoons are rather pissed at Politiken for breaking ranks and selling out. It's no doubt made it much more dangerous for those defending the core principles of western civilization. The first crack is usually the hardest one to get but once it happens the rest are easier. People always remember the first to toss others under the bus but it gets easier once the precedent is set. Now the Islamists know it's not a question of whether pressure will work, just how much.

Thanks to Politiken, the pressure will no doubt be upped on the rest. But they should be fine because these things always work out well for those who sell out.

posted by DrewM. at 01:39 PM

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