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Denmark throws out cartoons suit Danish court rejects cartoon suit
(about 1 hour later)
A Danish court has rejected a lawsuit against a paper that published cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad, leading to violent protests worldwide. A Danish court has rejected a civil lawsuit against a paper that published cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad.
The City Court in Aarhus said it could not be ruled out that some Muslims had been offended by the 12 drawings printed in Jyllands-Posten. The 12 cartoons sparked violent protests around the world after Jyllands-Posten published them in 2005.
But, it added, there was no reason to assume that the cartoons were meant to denigrate Muslims. Seven Muslim organisations launched the lawsuit against the newspapers' editors, alleging defamation.
The suit had been brought in March by seven Muslim organisations. But the City Court in Aarhus said there was not enough reason to believe the cartoons were intended to be insulting or harmful to Muslims.
The organisations brought it in March after the Danish attorney-general's decision not to make criminal charges against the newspaper under racism and blasphemy legislation.
Since the racism and blasphemy laws cannot be used in a civil suit, the BBC's Julian Isherwood reports from Copenhagen, the groups sued the editor-in-chief and cultural editor of the newspaper for libel.
They accused the paper of publishing text and cartoons which were "offensive and insulting" to Muhammad.They accused the paper of publishing text and cartoons which were "offensive and insulting" to Muhammad.
The cartoons, they argued, "attacked the honour of believers because they portrayed the Prophet as war-like and criminal and made a clear link between Muhammad, war and terrorism".The cartoons, they argued, "attacked the honour of believers because they portrayed the Prophet as war-like and criminal and made a clear link between Muhammad, war and terrorism".
'Not offensive''Not offensive'
But the judge ruled on Thursday that the cartoons were "not offensive... even if the text accompanying the pictures could be read as being derogatory and mocking". But a judge ruled on Thursday that the cartoons were "not offensive... even if the text accompanying the pictures could be read as being derogatory and mocking".
After Jyllands-Posten published the 12 cartoons on 30 September 2005, a campaign of protest gradually gathered steam in the Muslim world, erupting into deadly riots in February of this year. "Of course it cannot be excluded that the drawings offendedsome Muslims," the ruling said.
"But there is no sufficient reason to assume that the cartoons are or wereintended to be insulting... or put forward ideas that couldhurt the standing of Muslims in society."
After Jyllands-Posten published the cartoons on 30 September 2005, a campaign of protest gradually gathered steam in the Muslim world, erupting into deadly riots in February of this year.
Islamic tradition explicitly prohibits images of Muhammad and other major religious figures. At least one of the cartoons also portrayed Muhammad as a terrorist.Islamic tradition explicitly prohibits images of Muhammad and other major religious figures. At least one of the cartoons also portrayed Muhammad as a terrorist.
Death threats were made against the artists. Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen appeared on Arabic TV to apologise for any offence caused.Death threats were made against the artists. Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen appeared on Arabic TV to apologise for any offence caused.
Jyllands-Posten has defended its publication of the cartoons on grounds of freedom of press but it also accepted they had caused offence to many Muslims and apologised.Jyllands-Posten has defended its publication of the cartoons on grounds of freedom of press but it also accepted they had caused offence to many Muslims and apologised.
Our correspondent notes that the issue is far from closed.
An appeal against the verdict has been lodged, and if the first court of appeal upholds the decision, the Muslim groups say they will take the issue as far as they can, up to the supreme court if necessary.