http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/National/2006/02/15/1443231-sun.html
OTTAWA -- Prime Minister Stephen Harper says he regrets the publication of controversial editorial cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad.
In his first public statement on the controversy, Harper noted yesterday that Canadians have a right to free speech.
But they "also have the right to voice their opinion on the free speech of others," he added.
"I regret the publication of this material in several media outlets," he said in a news release.
"While we understand this issue is divisive, our government wishes that people be respectful of the beliefs of others. I commend the Canadian Muslim community for voicing its opinion peacefully, respectfully and democratically."
The cartoons were first published by a Danish newspaper in September. Papers in other European countries reprinted them, and the latest issue of the Calgary-based Western Standard includes some of the offending drawings.
One of the cartoons depicts the prophet wearing a bomb-shaped turban with a lit detonator string -- a shot at Islamic terrorists.
Islamic tradition prohibits depictions of the Prophet.
One Muslim group warned yesterday the Western Standard's decision to carry the drawings could endanger Canadians in Afghanistan.
Reprinting the drawings could put the soldiers, who have been attacked repeatedly at further risk, said Riad Saloojee of the Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations.
"I think the fact that people choose to reprint the cartoons could put our troops in danger," he said. "That's, I think, one of the reasons why major (Canadian) media outlets have been responsible and chosen not to do that."
Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor expressed similar concerns Monday.
Western Standard publisher Ezra Levant dismissed the criticism.
"In Canada we have freedoms, and our soldiers' and diplomats' job is to protect those freedoms at home and expand those freedoms abroad," Levant said yesterday. "I think most of the soldiers get it."
OTTAWA -- Prime Minister Stephen Harper says he regrets the publication of controversial editorial cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad.
In his first public statement on the controversy, Harper noted yesterday that Canadians have a right to free speech.
But they "also have the right to voice their opinion on the free speech of others," he added.
"I regret the publication of this material in several media outlets," he said in a news release.
"While we understand this issue is divisive, our government wishes that people be respectful of the beliefs of others. I commend the Canadian Muslim community for voicing its opinion peacefully, respectfully and democratically."
The cartoons were first published by a Danish newspaper in September. Papers in other European countries reprinted them, and the latest issue of the Calgary-based Western Standard includes some of the offending drawings.
One of the cartoons depicts the prophet wearing a bomb-shaped turban with a lit detonator string -- a shot at Islamic terrorists.
Islamic tradition prohibits depictions of the Prophet.
One Muslim group warned yesterday the Western Standard's decision to carry the drawings could endanger Canadians in Afghanistan.
Reprinting the drawings could put the soldiers, who have been attacked repeatedly at further risk, said Riad Saloojee of the Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations.
"I think the fact that people choose to reprint the cartoons could put our troops in danger," he said. "That's, I think, one of the reasons why major (Canadian) media outlets have been responsible and chosen not to do that."
Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor expressed similar concerns Monday.
Western Standard publisher Ezra Levant dismissed the criticism.
"In Canada we have freedoms, and our soldiers' and diplomats' job is to protect those freedoms at home and expand those freedoms abroad," Levant said yesterday. "I think most of the soldiers get it."
