Danish News Staff Rejects Prophet Drawing Apology

March 7, 2010

Author: Staff Writer

Source: Los Angeles Times

Wire Service: AP

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/europe/la-fg-0307-denmark-drawing-20100307,0,4522940.story

Thirty-eight staff members of the Danish daily Politiken issued a letter on Saturday saying they are against the newspaper's apology for offending Muslims by reprinting a cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad with a bomb-shaped turban.

In a letter published in the newspaper, the editorial staff said "Politiken has nothing to apologize for."

"The settlement gives the impression that we regret our journalism, something there is no basis for whatsoever," they wrote, saying democratic journalism entails "describing reality as precisely as possible and to encourage social debate." They also said they fear the settlement could interfere with their editorial freedom.

Politiken, which has around 200 staff members, last week apologized for offending Muslims with the 2008 reprint but did not apologize for reprinting the cartoon.