JERUSALEM – The Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy (MIFTAH) views with grave concern and alarm the recent wave of hostilities by Palestinian activists towards foreign nationals in the occupied Palestinian territories, in protest against the publication of offensive cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad in various European newspapers.

The most recent incident occurred earlier today when a group of armed Palestinian activists surrounded the headquarters of the European Union in Gaza city. In the West Bank city Nablus, a German citizen was briefly kidnapped yesterday by members of the so called Al Yasser Brigades, a group allegedly affiliated with Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades. Other incidents have also included attacks against various European institutions, including the French Cultural Centre in Gaza city.

While MIFTAH fully appreciates the sensitivity of this issue, in particularly the depiction of the Prophet Mohammad, which is in direct contradiction to Islamic Law, and despite our sincere respect for the religion of Islam, it must be cautioned that the threats and attacks carried out against the nationals of the countries in which these cartoons have appeared are detrimental to the interests of the Palestinian people.

Furthermore, despite the understandable provocation caused by these offensive cartoons, MIFTAH urges all Palestinian activists to uphold the rule of law and to refrain from taking the matter in their own hands.

MIFTAH also condemns the publication of all material that is pejorative of any faith or set of beliefs. While we strongly advocate and uphold the right to freedom of expression and free speech, we reaffirm that any publication must abide the minimal standards of decency and professional integrity.

- END -

The Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy, MIFTAH, is a non-governmental, non-partisan Jerusalem-based institution dedicated to fostering democracy and good governance within Palestinian society through promoting public accountability, transparency, the free flow of information and ideas and the challenging of stereotyping at home and abroad.

For further information, please contact:

Media and Information Programme, MIFTAH

Tel: +972 2 585 1842

Fax: +972 2 583 5184

E-mail: mip@miftah.org 

Website: www.miftah.org