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Egyptian Group Decries ‘Danish Insults’ | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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CAIRO, Egypt, (AP) – Egypt’s largest Islamic group, the Muslim Brotherhood, denounced on Saturday what it called “new Danish insults” to Islam a day after word spread about a Web video showing young members of a populist Danish political party mocking the Prophet Muhammad.

The Brotherhood, which enjoys wide popularity in Egypt and the Arab World, urged Muslims to boycott products from Denmark and any other country that would allow such an “insult.”

The story, first reported by the Danish daily newspaper Nyhedsavisen on Friday, came in the aftermath of violent protests after 12 drawings of the Prophet Muhammad were published last year by another Danish newspaper.

Video clips of a drawing contest among the young politicians, in their 20s and 30s, were posted on some Web sites after the annual Aug. 4-6 camp. In the videos, it appeared that they had been drinking. Nearly all of the approximately 30 people shown in the videos had their faces blurred, but the images they drew were clearly visible.

In one, a woman presents a drawing of a camel, adding that it has “the head of Muhammad” and beer bottles as humps. The group laughs as the woman, who was not identified, explained the drawing.

“Muslims are shocked by this new Danish insult,” the Muslim Brotherhood said in a statement. It described the drawing as “the ugliest for God’s most honorable human being, peace be upon him.”

In September 2005, the Danish daily Jyllands-Posten printed drawings of the Prophet Muhammad. Four months later, they were reprinted in a range of Western media, triggering fierce protests across the Muslim world that included the storming of some western embassies.

Kenneth Kristensen, chairman of the Danish People’s Party Youth which is known for its anti-immigration stance, refused to apologize Friday for the actions of its members, but acknowledged they were problematic.

“I regret that they decided to organize the drawing contest. They must take responsibility for it,” said Kristensen, who did not attend the camp.

But he added that he believed it was “OK to poke fun at Muhammad, Jesus or Bill Clinton.”

Islamic law is interpreted to forbid any depiction of the prophet for fear it could lead to idolatry.