US backs Muslims in cartoon dispute

By Saul Hudson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States backed Muslims on
Friday against European newspapers that printed caricatures of
the Prophet Mohammad in a move that could help America’s
battered image in the Islamic world.

Inserting itself into a dispute that has become a lightning
rod for anti-European sentiment across the Muslim world, the
United States sided with Muslims outraged that the publications
put press freedom over respect for religion.

“These cartoons are indeed offensive to the belief of
Muslims,” State Department spokesman Kurtis Cooper said in
answer to a question.

“We all fully recognize and respect freedom of the press
and expression but it must be coupled with press
responsibility. Inciting religious or ethnic hatreds in this
manner is not acceptable.”

American Muslims welcomed the U.S. position, although it
stopped short of urging American media not to republish the
cartoons that include depicting Mohammad as a terrorist.

Cooper said he had no comment as to why the United States
chose to pass judgment in a dispute that ostensibly does not
involve America.

But the United States, which was founded by immigrants
fleeing religious persecution, has previously spoken out
against publications offensive to believers of other faiths.

“Anti-Muslim images are as unacceptable as anti-Semitic
images, as anti-Christian images or any other religious
belief,” State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told
reporters.

The United States, which before the September 11 attacks
was criticized for insensitivity to the Islamic culture, has
become more attuned to Muslim sensibilities.

Accusations last year that U.S. officials desecrated the
Koran sparked deadly riots in Asia and heightened that
awareness.

DIFFERENT RESPONSE IN U.S. AND EUROPE

Major U.S. publications have not republished the cartoons.

In contrast, some European media responded to the criticism
against the Danish newspaper that originally printed the
caricatures by reproducing the images and fueled anger that has
led to boycotts of Danish products and widespread protests.

The U.S. response contrasted with European governments,
which have tended to acknowledge the tension between free
speech and respect for religion but have generally accepted the
newspapers’ rights to print the cartoons.

Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Council on American
Islamic Relations, told Reuters he welcomed the U.S. position.

The State Department reaction “was a strong statement in
support of Muslims around the world. It’s a reflection of the
concern felt by millions of Muslims and I think it will be
appreciated,” he said.

“It is support for an understanding that with freedom comes
responsibility.”

But Stephen Zunes, a professor of politics at the
University of San Francisco and a Bush administration critic,
said the United States was responsible for creating far more
anger in the Muslim world because of its invasion of Iraq.

“The United States is the last nation that should caution
against unnecessarily inflaming sentiments in the Muslim
world,” he said.

The U.S. criticism of the newspapers also comes after the
Pentagon complained over a Washington Post cartoon.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff sent an unusual letter to the
editor published on Thursday, denouncing as “reprehensible” and
“beyond tasteless” a cartoon earlier in the week portraying
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld as insensitive to U.S. troop
casualties.

The cartoon portrayed a soldier who had lost his arms and
legs with Rumsfeld at his hospital bedside saying, “I’m listing
your condition as ‘battle hardened.”‘

(Additional reporting by Caroline Drees)