ROME, March 13, 2006 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – The head of the Islamic cultural institute in Rome lauded on Monday, March 13, the stance of the Jewish community on the publication of cartoons lampooning Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him).
"I want to thank the Jewish community for the solidarity they showed towards Muslims when, recently, the Prophet Muhammad was ridiculed and insulted with offensive cartoons that were simply not funny," Abdellah Redouane said after talks with Rome's chief rabbi Riccardo Di Segni, reported Reuters.
Segni paid a landmark visit to Rome's main mosque, one of the largest in Europe, Monday for talks with Muslim leaders after the recent cartoon row.
Twelve cartoons, including one showing the Prophet with a bomb-shaped turban, were first published by Danish daily Jyllands-Posten in September and reprinted by European newspapers, including in Italy, on claims of freedom of expression.
The drawings, considered blasphemous under Islam, have triggered massive and sometimes violent demonstrations across the Muslim world.
Reforms Minister Roberto Calderoli was forced to resign after sporting T-shirts displaying the caricatures.
Segni condemned the minister's move, expressing "solidarity with the Muslim world" over the drawings.
Example
Segni made a landmark visit to Rome's main mosque for talks with Muslim leaders. (Reuters)
Redouane said the cartoon controversy was an example of how Jews and Muslims could work together.
Segni, on his part, said both Muslim and Jews should join hands to help establish peace.
"We must contribute to creating the conditions for peace," he said in an address to Muslim leaders.
"We have a duty to promote dialogue and this is what we are trying to do."
Segni's visit came less than two weeks after Roman Catholic and Jewish leaders met at the Vatican and agreed to widen their dialogue to involve Muslims in the wake of the cartoon controversy.
There are some 1.5 million Muslims in Italy, the country's fastest-growing immigrant population.
Islam is the least represented of the monotheistic faiths in Rome’s corridors of power.
Unlike Judaism, Buddhism and some Protestant denominations, Islam is not officially recognized by the state.
"I want to thank the Jewish community for the solidarity they showed towards Muslims when, recently, the Prophet Muhammad was ridiculed and insulted with offensive cartoons that were simply not funny," Abdellah Redouane said after talks with Rome's chief rabbi Riccardo Di Segni, reported Reuters.
Segni paid a landmark visit to Rome's main mosque, one of the largest in Europe, Monday for talks with Muslim leaders after the recent cartoon row.
Twelve cartoons, including one showing the Prophet with a bomb-shaped turban, were first published by Danish daily Jyllands-Posten in September and reprinted by European newspapers, including in Italy, on claims of freedom of expression.
The drawings, considered blasphemous under Islam, have triggered massive and sometimes violent demonstrations across the Muslim world.
Reforms Minister Roberto Calderoli was forced to resign after sporting T-shirts displaying the caricatures.
Segni condemned the minister's move, expressing "solidarity with the Muslim world" over the drawings.
Example
Segni made a landmark visit to Rome's main mosque for talks with Muslim leaders. (Reuters)
Redouane said the cartoon controversy was an example of how Jews and Muslims could work together.
Segni, on his part, said both Muslim and Jews should join hands to help establish peace.
"We must contribute to creating the conditions for peace," he said in an address to Muslim leaders.
"We have a duty to promote dialogue and this is what we are trying to do."
Segni's visit came less than two weeks after Roman Catholic and Jewish leaders met at the Vatican and agreed to widen their dialogue to involve Muslims in the wake of the cartoon controversy.
There are some 1.5 million Muslims in Italy, the country's fastest-growing immigrant population.
Islam is the least represented of the monotheistic faiths in Rome’s corridors of power.
Unlike Judaism, Buddhism and some Protestant denominations, Islam is not officially recognized by the state.
