Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08COPENHAGEN70
2008-02-13 14:25:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Copenhagen
Cable title:  

DENMARK: CARTOONS IN DEFENSE OF FREE SPEECH

Tags:  PTER PGOV PREL KISL ASEC DA 
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P 131425Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4063
INFO ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
ISLAMIC COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 
AMEMBASSY JAKARTA PRIORITY 
AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 
CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
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C O N F I D E N T I A L COPENHAGEN 000070 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA, EUR, AND DS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2018
TAGS: PTER, PGOV, PREL, KISL, ASEC, DA
SUBJECT: DENMARK: CARTOONS IN DEFENSE OF FREE SPEECH

REF: COPENHAGEN 00067

Classified By: CDA Sandra Kaiser for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L COPENHAGEN 000070

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA, EUR, AND DS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2018
TAGS: PTER, PGOV, PREL, KISL, ASEC, DA
SUBJECT: DENMARK: CARTOONS IN DEFENSE OF FREE SPEECH

REF: COPENHAGEN 00067

Classified By: CDA Sandra Kaiser for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)

1. (U) Summary: Taking a defiant stance following a foiled
plot to kill a Danish cartoonist, 17 Danish newspapers today
published his controversial caricature of Mohammed wearing a
bomb as a turban. Official Danish reaction to the
re-publication of the cartoon has been muted, while the
Danish MFA nervously monitors reactions in the Muslim world.
Domestic Danish press coverage of the February 12 arrests
included editorials and comments reflecting general outrage
at the planned killing and a defense of free expression. End
Summary.

2. (U) Following the February 12 arrests by Danish police of
three men accused of planning to murder Jyllands-Posten
cartoonist Kurt Westergaard as revenge for his caricature of
Mohammed (reftel),17 Danish newspapers (including every
major news daily) published Westergaard's now-infamous image
in their February 13 editions. The editors of the three
major dailies, Politiken, Berlingske Tidende, and
Jyllands-Posten, defended their decisions to publish the
cartoon as a matter of free speech and a display of unity and
solidarity with Westergaard. International media have also
been quick to widely report news of the arrests and the
Danish papers' decision to reprint the cartoon.

3. (U) Various Danish political parties February 13 denounced
the planned murder as "terrifying" and praised the work of
the Danish police and intelligence services. Justice
Minister Lene Espersen acknowledged the "deeply worrisome"
nature of the case, but said the terror threat in Denmark
remains unchanged. Parliamentarian Naser Khader, who gained
political prominence during the last Mohammed crisis, called
on the Danish government to develop a national action plan to
combat Islamic radicalization.

4. (U) Representatives of Islamic groups in Denmark also
uniformly condemned the planned attack. The Islamic Council
(Muslimernes Faellesraad) issued a statement stating "it is
shameful that a group of people would take Islam as a hostage
in connection with their own interests... the suspects have
misunderstood the message of Islam." The Islamic Faith
Society (Islamic Trossamfund) characterized the threats as
contrary to Islam.

5. (C) Acting Danish MFA Chief Anne Riggleson told Charge
that Danish embassies are reporting calm in the field. The
Danes remain concerned, however, about potential unrest in
Ramallah, which saw flag burnings and violent protests in
2006. The Danish MFA's Citizen Services Unit said in a
statement that they "have not heard anything that gives
reason to change the security assessment for Danish
citizens." The Foreign Ministry had already issued a
standing warning to Danish citizens of an increased terror
threat as a result of the 2006 Mohammed cartoon crisis.

6. (U) Meanwhile, one of the suspected plotters, a Danish
citizen of Moroccan descent, was released from prison
February 12 pending formal charges. The two other suspects,
both Tunisian nationals with Danish residence permits, remain
in a Danish prison awaiting deportation as "threats to Danish
state security."

7. (C) Comment: Denmark is enjoying one of its long,
sacrosanct holiday periods, with the government on skeleton
staffing. The domestic Danish debate has, as in the original
Mohammed crisis, focused so far on the defense of free
speech, with only a few professional diplomats expressing
worry to us about international reaction. Muslim groups in
Denmark have also been muted in their response. However, all
sides will be nervous in the days ahead as they monitor
international reaction and popular sentiments. A spokesman
for the Islamic Faith Society commented February 13 that the
group had been able to exercise considerable influence in
encouraging restraint in Denmark's Muslim community during
the first Mohammed crisis. He quickly cautioned, however,
that the decision to reprint one of the cartoons now might
also "provoke" Muslims in Denmark, and he suggested the
planned deportation of the Tunisian suspects without a court
proceeding is "unfair treatment" which could lead the Faith
Society to "lose control" of its efforts to keep Danish
Muslims calm. Two years on, the Mohammed cartoon crisis
remains a deep source of tension within and outside Denmark.
KAISER