From: <a href="http://www.aftenposten.no/spesial/wikileaksdokumenter/article3965547.ece">Aftenposten</a><br>
Date: 2008-02-13
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C O N F I D E N T I A L COPENHAGEN 000070
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA, EUR, AND DS
E.O. 12958:
DECL: 02/12/2018
TAGS: PTER, PGOV, PREL, KISL, ASEC, DA
SUBJECT: DENMARK: CARTOONS IN DEFENSE OF FREE SPEECH
REF: COPENHAGEN 00067
Classified By: CDA Sandra Kaiser for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)

1. (U)
Summary: Taking a defiant stance following a foiled plot to
kill a Danish cartoonist, 17 Danish newspapers today published
his controversial caricature of Mohammed wearing a bomb as a
turban. Official Danish reaction to the re-publication of the
cartoon has been muted, while the Danish MFA nervously
monitors reactions in the Muslim world. Domestic Danish press
coverage of the February 12 arrests included editorials and
comments reflecting general outrage at the planned killing and
a defense of free expression. End Summary.

2. (U)
Following the February 12 arrests by Danish police of three
men accused of planning to murder Jyllands-Posten cartoonist
Kurt Westergaard as revenge for his caricature of Mohammed
(reftel), 17 Danish newspapers (including every major news
daily) published Westergaard´s now-infamous image in their
February 13 editions. The editors of the three major dailies,
Politiken, Berlingske Tidende, and Jyllands-Posten, defended
their decisions to publish the cartoon as a matter of free
speech and a display of unity and solidarity with Westergaard.
International media have also been quick to widely report news
of the arrests and the Danish papers´ decision to reprint the
cartoon.

3. (U)
Various Danish political parties February 13 denounced the
planned murder as "terrifying" and praised the work of the
Danish police and intelligence services. Justice Minister Lene
Espersen acknowledged the "deeply worrisome" nature of the
case, but said the terror threat in Denmark remains unchanged.
Parliamentarian Naser Khader, who gained political prominence
during the last Mohammed crisis, called on the Danish
government to develop a national action plan to combat Islamic
radicalization.

4. (U)
Representatives of Islamic groups in Denmark also uniformly
condemned the planned attack. The Islamic Council (Muslimernes
Faellesraad) issued a statement stating "it is shameful that a
group of people would take Islam as a hostage in connection
with their own interests... the suspects have misunderstood
the message of Islam." The Islamic Faith Society (Islamic
Trossamfund) characterized the threats as contrary to Islam.

5. (C)
Acting Danish MFA Chief Anne Riggleson told Charge that Danish
embassies are reporting calm in the field. The Danes remain
concerned, however, about potential unrest in Ramallah, which
saw flag burnings and violent protests in 2006. The Danish
MFA´s Citizen Services Unit said in a statement that they
"have not heard anything that gives reason to change the
security assessment for Danish citizens." The Foreign Ministry
had already issued a standing warning to Danish citizens of an
increased terror threat as a result of the 2006 Mohammed
cartoon crisis.

6. (U)
Meanwhile, one of the suspected plotters, a Danish citizen of
Moroccan descent, was released from prison February 12 pending
formal charges. The two other suspects, both Tunisian
nationals with Danish residence permits, remain in a Danish
prison awaiting deportation as "threats to Danish state
security."

7. (C)
Comment: Denmark is enjoying one of its long, sacrosanct
holiday periods, with the government on skeleton staffing. The
domestic Danish debate has, as in the original Mohammed
crisis, focused so far on the defense of free speech, with
only a few professional diplomats expressing worry to us about
international reaction. Muslim groups in Denmark have also
been muted in their response. However, all sides will be
nervous in the days ahead as they monitor international
reaction and popular sentiments. A spokesman for the Islamic
Faith Society commented February 13 that the group had been
able to exercise considerable influence in encouraging
restraint in Denmark´s Muslim community during the first
Mohammed crisis. He quickly cautioned, however, that the
decision to reprint one of the cartoons now might also
"provoke" Muslims in Denmark, and he suggested the planned
deportation of the Tunisian suspects without a court
proceeding is "unfair treatment" which could lead the Faith
Society to "lose control" of its efforts to keep Danish
Muslims calm. Two years on, the Mohammed cartoon crisis
remains a deep source of tension within and outside Denmark.

KAISER
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