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Arab envoys' group lauds Japan over response to prophet cartoons
Asian Political News, Feb 20, 2006
TOKYO, Feb. 16 Kyodo
The head of a group of envoys from Arab nations based in Tokyo praised the Japanese government on Thursday for its efforts to urge the Japanese media to voluntarily refrain from publishing the controversial cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad amid the recent violence sparked by Muslim outrage over such publication.
Tunisian Ambassador to Japan Salah Hannachi, who heads the Arab and Islamic Diplomatic Groups in Tokyo, visited the Japanese Foreign Ministry to convey his gratitude to Motohide Yoshikawa, head of the ministry's Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau, over the Japanese government's efforts not to aggravate the situation.
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Hannachi, after meeting with Yoshikawa, told reporters that he and his fellow diplomats from the Arab world have ''great pleasure'' and ''satisfaction'' on the ''constructive position'' of the Japanese government.
He was alluding to the ministry's move to urge the Japanese media to voluntarily refrain from printing or airing the controversial caricatures.
''Like Japan, we condemn violence but...freedom of the press carries with it responsibility and it carries in particular responsibility for other cultures and other religions,'' Hannachi said.
The Tunisian envoy, who heads the 43-nation Arab group, also described the Japanese media's attitude as ''constructive'' and ''responsible.''
The ministry had also issued a statement earlier this month, soon after the violence over the cartoon broke out, urging ''all parties concerned to reduce tension and to refrain from any action or statement that might aggravate the situation.''
The statement also said that Japan understood the ''distress'' felt by Muslims but that ''violence and vandalism are not acceptable for any reason.''
Yoshikawa said to reporters that he appreciated Hannachi's visit and reiterated to Hannachi the Japanese government's position that freedom of expression carries with it responsibility but that it cannot accept any form of violence.
Hannachi also handed to Yoshikawa a letter of the same nature addressed to Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso.
The Arab envoys said in the letter they ''agree that the fundamental undeniable freedom of expression shall not be abused to offend other peoples' faiths or to promote religious hatred'' and that ''violence, as a reaction, is totally condemnable and unjustified.''
The cartoons, which were first printed in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten last September and have since been reprinted in a number of European publications, have caused violent protests by Muslims worldwide, causing injuries and deaths.
Among the cartoons, one showed the prophet wearing a bomb-shaped turban. Islam forbids the depiction of the prophet in any form.
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