All news

Iraqi Kurds demonstrate over Mohammed cartoons

ARBIL, Iraq, Feb 14, 2006 (AFP) - Several thousand Kurdish Islamists demonstrated in the northern Iraqi city of Arbil against the decision by Danish and Norwegian newspapers to publish cartoons ridiculing the Prophet Mohammed.

The protestors waved Korans and carried banners reading "death to the enemies of Islam" and "we strongly condemn attacks carried out on the Prophet by Norwegian and Danish newspapers".

They burnt Danish flags.

The heads of Kurdish Islamic groups, including Ali Bapir of the Jamaa Islamiya of Kurdistan and activists from the political party, the Kurdish Islamic Union, marched at the head of the protest.

"This peaceful demonstration is a response to the offenses against the Prophet in a number of European countries. Through this march, we want to show that the Kurdish people are also Muslim people loyal to their religion and Prophet," said Bapir, addressing the crowd gathered in front of the local parliament.

The demonstrators submitted a statement to parliament condemning the publication. "While affirming our belief in the freedom of expression and the press, we declare that these incitements do not serve brotherly coexistence, the dialogue between civilizations and stability in the region."

They also took the opportunity to call for "preserving Islamic values in the Kurdish constitution currently under consideration".