Swedish, Norwegian ambassadors summoned to Foreign Ministry

Tehran Times Political Desk
TEHRAN – The Swedish and Norwegian ambassadors to Tehran were summoned to the foreign ministry on Wednesday over the recent publication of offensive cartoons of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) in a Swedish paper.
Mohammad-Reza Karshenas, Foreign Ministry official in charge of Central and Northern European affairs, underlined the importance of respecting the religious beliefs and values of the 1.5-billion Muslim population worldwide.
He noted that Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki had written a letter of protest to his Swedish and Norwegian counterparts.
Karshenas condemned the offensive cartoons published by the Danish newspaper which had found their way to the Norwegian daily Magazinet as a violation of the rights of Muslims all over the world and a move that would weaken efforts to achieve a harmonious coexistence among followers of different religions.
Calling on the Swedish and Norwegian governments to make an official apology, he stressed that such acts should never be repeated.
The Swedish envoy, Christopher Gyllenstierna expressed his government’s respect for Muslim beliefs and stressed that the protest would be brought to its attention.
Caricatures of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) published in a Danish tabloid in September provoked boycotts and angry protests across the Muslim world on Tuesday with interior ministers from 17 Arab countries calling on the Danish government to punish the authors.
The Norwegian envoy, Ole Kristian expressed his regret over the issue and submitted the written apology of the Norwegian foreign minister.
He further announced that he would report the concern and protest of the Iranian government and nation to his country.
The General Secretariat of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) also condemned the reprehensible publications.