Lanao, Marawi Muslims demand closure of Danish Embassy

Marawi City — Thousands of Muslims here are demanding the closure of the Danish Consulate office in Manila as the Imams issued a local "Fatwah" or Islamic religious opinion demanding an apology and death to the offending cartoonists of a Denmark-based newspaper which satirically and humorously portrayed the Prophet Mohammad.

The Bishops-Ulama Conference also appealed for harmonious co-existence between Christians and Muslims.

Aleem Mansawi Mimbalang Dariday, president of the Weldan Al Islamia group, issued the "Fatwah" (religious opinion) demanding an apology from the Danish government and the closure of its office in Manila and sentencing to death of two journalists of the Denmark-based newspaper Jyllands-Posten.

"The 12 cartoons of Mohammad are disrespectful, offensive, provocative, a mockery and blasphemy to Islam," Aleem Dariday said.

The two journalists of Jyllands-Posten were identified as Carsten Juste, editor-in-chief, and Fleming Rose, cultural editor.

Effigies of the two journalists were symbolically "beheaded" using a "kris", a local Muslim sword, in the presence of a mammoth crowd of the placard-bearing religious groups, students and people from all walks of life, at Plaza Cabili in Bangolo District here yesterday.

The huge crowd spilled over to the adjoining streets in front and at the back of the public square.

"You have to love Islam more than yourself, your family and everything else and you are willing to die for it," said Hadji Lacs Dalidig of the Muslim Multi-sectoral Movement for Peace and Development.

The12 offending cartoons were reproduced locally and posted at the stage of the public square where the rally was held.

On the other hand, the Bishops-Ulama Conference issued a joint statement appealing to Christians and Muslims to join in the efforts towards the promotion of peace and harmonious co-existence.