Politiken apologizes for affront
26. feb. 2010 10.08 EnglishDaily newspaper Politiken is the first paper to enter into a settlement over the affront to Muslims caused by the newspaper's reprinting of the so-called Muhammad cartoons in 2008.
The settlement has been entered into by Politiken and eight organizations representing 94,923 descendants of the Prophet Muhammad.
No apologies for cartoons
In the settlement, Politiken does not give up the right to reprint the cartoons, and the newspaper does not apologize for printing them.
Lawyer satisfied
The apology only pertains to the affront felt by some Muslims. And that is enough, says the Saudi lawyer representing the eight organizations.
Socialdemokratiet's leader Helle Thorning-Schmidt calls the settlement outrageous, and SF leader Villy Søvndal agrees that freedom of speech is not up for negotiation.
Dansk Folkeparti leader Pia Kjærsgaard calls the situation absurd and deeply embarrassing, while political spokesman for Venstre, Peter Christensen, finds it odd that Politiken would feel the need to apologize.
Translated by Martin Lamberth