Protests continue against drawings of Prophet [Archives:2006/918/Local News]
Yasser Al-Mayasi
& Ridhwan Al-Saqqaf
SANA'A, Feb. 4 ) Yemenis nationwide still are protesting drawings of the Prophet Mohamed by Danish newspaper Jyllands Posten and other European newspapers. Friday mosque preachers in various Yemeni governorates condemned the Danish and Norwegian newspapers' conduct disgracing Muslims and the Prophet Mohamed.
Mosque preachers held the view that other European newspapers' republishing of the drawings implies intentional humiliation of the Prophet Mohamed and an attempt to taunt Muslims worldwide.
According to mosque preachers, such immoral and irresponsible conduct contravenes all religions' values and tenets and breaks international laws banning harm to religions, establishments and religious scholars.
In Sana'a, Islah Shura Council Chairman and Iman University Rector Sheikh Abdulmajeed Al-Zindani demanded those attending Friday prayers work hard to protect Islam and Muslims' dignity. He affirmed in his sermon that Muslim nations must boycott Danish products and demanded Arab and Islamic governments exert efforts to issue a law banning any illegal conduct against Islam. He also criticized non-Muslim scholars who claim the drawings do not harm Islam's prophet.
Aden's Al-Rahman Mosque preacher commented that false democracy that disgraces Muslims and their prophet is not democracy; rather, it is a war on Islam and Muslims. He noted that Islamic statesmen did not terminate their countries' Danish ambassadors, but they had disappointed the nations protesting the drawings. He said the world should acknowledge that Islam and Muslims will never tolerate any humiliation of the Prophet Mohamed and that boycotting Danish products is the least Muslims should do to batter Denmark's economy.
Hundreds of Aden citizens gathered after Friday prayers to distribute pamphlets insisting on boycotting Danish products to force the Danish government to apologize to Muslims. Citizens in Mukalla burned Danish products and the Danish flag in reaction to its media's conduct.
Numerous parties, syndicates and public organizations released statements denouncing the drawings of the Prophet Mohamed saying they attack Islam and Muslims. The statements called on Arab nations to break relations with Denmark and boycott its products.
Sana'a University economists and academics affirmed that boycotting products is a civilized method preferred to controversy and badmouthing. According to economists, the estimated loss from boycotting Danish and Norwegian products has exceeded a billion Yemeni Riyals.
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