SINGAPORE: Insensitive to run cartoons, says S'pore Archbishop

Archbishop Nicholas Chia condemns the insensitivity of the Prophet Muhammad cartoons

Straits Times
Friday, February 17, 2006

By Ken Kwek

The Catholic Church in Singapore condemns the publication of cartoons satirising Prophet Muhammad that first appeared in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten.

Archbishop Nicholas Chia said it was a "deeply irresponsible action and grossly insensitive" to Muslims' feelings.

In a statement yesterday, he said the Catholic Church stood in solidarity with Singapore's Muslims who were offended by the "insensitive and provocative" publication of the caricatures.

While upholding the principle of free speech and expression as "a fundamental human right and the basis for free and democratic societies," he insisted that such freedom had to be exercised responsibly.

Freedom of speech and expression imposed a "serious responsibility on those who claim it." And it did not imply the right to offend the religious sentiments of believers of any religion, he said.

"We view the publication of the cartoons as a deeply irresponsible action and grossly insensitive to the feelings and faith of our Muslim brothers and sisters," he said.

"We condemn all forms of incitement to hatred on the basis of race or religion, and any form of denigration of religion."

But he added that the provocation caused by the cartoons "does not justify the violent reaction of some who have protested against them."

"We support our Muslim brothers who have condemned such violence and have urged the use of peaceful means of protest," he said.

His comments followed those made earlier this month by organisations like the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore, Singapore Islamic Scholars and Religious Teachers Association, and Association of Muslim Professionals.

These criticised the publication of the cartoons, as well as the violent way in which some groups abroad reacted to it.

The Fellowship of Muslim Students Association, Adult Islamic Religious Students' Association of Singapore, Muhammadiyah Association of Singapore and Jamiyah Singapore also commented similarly.

This was also the case for the Singapore Buddhist Lodge, Hindu Endowments Board, National Council of Churches and Singapore's political leaders.

Date Posted: 2/17/2006

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