'It's unacceptable provocation'

2006-02-04 18:07

Vatican City - The Vatican has made its first official comment on the caricatures of the prophet Muhammad that have sparked outtrage among Muslims, saying "certain forms of criticism" represent an "unacceptable provocation".

The Vatican statement read: "The right to freedom of thought and expression ... cannot entail the right to offend the religious sentiment of believers.

"Human co-existence demands a climate of mutual respect, to favour peace between men and nations.

"Furthermore, certain forms of extreme criticism or derision of others shows a lack of human sensitivity and can in some cases constitute an unacceptable provocation."

The cartoons, first published by a Danish newspaper, have caused a furor across the Muslim world. Islamic law is interpreted as forbiding any depictions of Islam's holiest figure.

Papers in several European countries have reprinted the cartoons in support of freedom of expression.

In Gaza City, hundreds of Palestinians marched through the streets on Saturday, storming European buildings and burning German and Danish flags to protest the cartoons.

The Vatican condemned such protests: "The offense caused by a single person or an organ of the press cannot be blamed on the public institutions of the relevant country.

"Violent actions of protest are therefore likewise deplorable."

- AP