The Muslim cartoons published by a Danish newspaper months ago were "imprudent," but reactions from the Muslim world are not justified, said EU justice and security chief Franco Frattini on Thursday.

 

"I can understand the feelings of indignation, frustration and sadness of the Muslim communities over the last few days as they viewed the cartoons published by a Danish newspaper," said Frattini, European Commission vice president for justice and security affairs, in a statement.

 

"Such events do not facilitate dialogue between faiths and cultures and provide barriers to the integration process to which the member states of the (European) Union are committed."

 

"However, one of the founding principles of our Europe is freedom of expression, including the right to criticize," he said.

 

He said reactions from the Muslim world are completely unacceptable.

 

"It should be crystal clear to all that violence, intimidation, and the calls for boycotts or for restraints on the freedom of the press are completely unacceptable and will not bring about a constructive discussion between communities."

 

The caricatures of the Muslim prophet Muhammed published in September by Danish newspaper Jyllends Posten brought about waves of protests in the Muslim world.

 

Several countries have recalled their ambassadors from Denmark while religious leaders and the Egyptian Parliament have urged a boycott of Danish products.

 

The standoff between Europe and the Muslim world deepened as several European newspapers have reprinted the caricatures in solidarity with the Danish paper in the past two days.

 

(Xinhua News Agency February 3, 2006)