"Honestly, I do not understand why any newspaper will publish the cartoons today," Annan said. "It is insensitive. It is offensive...

Don't publish Mohammed cartoons: UN
The Age ^
10 February 2006

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan scolded the media for continuing to publish cartoons lampooning the Prophet Mohammed and defended an attempt by Islamic nations to have a new UN human-rights council address religious defamation.

Annan also said he had no knowledge about US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's assertion on Wednesday that Iran and Syria had gone out of their way "to inflame sentiments and to use this to their own purposes."

"I have no evidence to that effect," Annan told reporters after arriving at UN headquarters. "This is so widespread, and it is unfortunate (and) we all need to take steps to calm the situation."

A Danish paper last September first published the cartoons, which included one of the Prophet Mohammed with a turban resembling a bomb.

In the past week, publications around the world have reproduced the cartoons after they sparked fury from Muslims and violent protests at Danish embassies and other European targets in the Middle East. Many Muslims regard any image of the Prophet as blasphemous.

"Honestly, I do not understand why any newspaper will publish the cartoons today," Annan said. "It is insensitive. It is offensive. It is provocative and you see what has happened around the world."

Annan said this did not mean he opposed freedom of the press, but he said it did entail "exercising responsibility and judgment" and media should not "pour oil on the fire".

He again condemned violence as unacceptable and said: "They should not attack innocent civilians. They should not attack those who are not responsible for the publication of the cartoons."

Annan also defended an attempt by Islamic nations to insert anti-defamation language into an already controversial founding document for a new UN human rights council to replace the discredited Geneva-based UN Human Rights Commission.

"I met with them and I don't think they are in a confrontational mood at all," Annan said.

The text proposed by 57 Islamic countries, obtained by Reuters, would promote universal respect for all religious and cultural values.

It would "prevent instances of intolerance, discrimination, incitement of hatred and violence arising from any actions against religions, prophets and beliefs which threaten the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms."

It also notes that "defamation of religions and prophets is inconsistent with the right to freedom of expression" and emphasized that states, organizations and the media have a "responsibility in promoting tolerance and respect for religious and cultural values."

The aim is to get adoption of the new human rights body this month, so it can begin to function this summer. Some U.S. Congress members want to make a new rights body a condition for paying U.N. dues.

World leaders agreed at a UN summit in September to create a new body to replace the 53-member Human Rights Commission, known for giving seats to countries such as Sudan and Zimbabwe and blocking criticism of rights abusers.