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Abu Dhabi: The UAE has denounced the republishing of the blasphemous cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him) in Danish newspapers.
Summoning non-resident Danish Ambassador to the UAE Hans Klingenbeg to his office, Dr Anwar Mohammad Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, delivered a protest memo, remonstrating the stance of the Danish government on reprinting the outrageous cartoons.
"The UAE has been keen in bolstering and maintaining its relations with countries around the world, including Denmark, because the UAE respects religious freedom and tolerance among people all over the world," the memo said.
"It condemns the unwise stand of the Danish government in not preventing the reprinting of the cartoons, defaming Islam and the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH)," the memo said.
Dr Gargash reiterated the UAE's clear stance in differentiating freedom of press and ridiculing of Islam. "This will definitely cast a shadow on bilateral relations between the two countries," he said.
Dr Gargash said the Danish government could do more to stop the attack on Islam which was apparently evident in the blasphemous cartoons.
The UAE would remain vocal and tolerant, and establish relations with foreign countries, "but would not tolerate attacks on our Islamic heritage", he said.
He reiterated that the UAE refuses to accept the use of press freedom as a cover for defaming "our religion and Prophet".
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