Controversy Over The Cartoon Of The Prophet Muhammad, The United Nations Calls For Mutual Respect For Religion

Illustration (Pixabay)

JAKARTA - The United Nations (PBB) expressed its deep concern over the increasing world tensions triggered by satirical caricatures depicting the Prophet Muhammad. UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations, Miguel Angel Moratinos called for mutual respect "between people of different religions and beliefs.

The remarks by Moratinos, who heads the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, came following growing outrage in the Muslim world over France's response to the beheading of a teacher, who had shown cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad to his students as part of lessons on freedom of expression.

"The inciting caricature has also provoked acts of violence against innocent civilians, who were attacked because of their religion, creed or ethnicity," Moratinos said, as quoted by Reuters, Thursday, October 29.

He underlined that contempt for religion and sacred religious symbols provokes hatred and violent extremism, leading to polarization and fragmentation of society. Freedom of expression must be exercised in a way that fully respects the religious beliefs and principles of all religions, he said.

"Acts of violence cannot and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic group," said Moratinos.

Earlier this month, French President Emmanuel Macron described Islam as a "religion in crisis" and announced plans for tougher laws to tackle "Islamic separatism" in France.

Tensions have escalated after the case of the beheading of a high school teacher, Samuel Paty, on October 16 on the outskirts of Paris after he showed a cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad in one of his classes about freedom of expression.

The attacker, Abdullakh Anzorov, an 18-year-old man from Chechnya, was then shot dead by police. Macron paid tribute to Paty, and the cartoon released by Charlie Hebdo was also projected on buildings in several cities.

The French president defended the caricature, saying France "will not stop our cartoons". The remarks sparked outrage across the Muslim world.

In addition to condemnation from a number of countries including Turkey, Iran and Pakistan, there have been calls to boycott products, protests and French attacks on French websites.