Describes and analyses recent reaction in various countries of Middle East on recent publications in Danish press.
We live in the era of instant communications, where information can be transmitted instantly by modern means of communications such as radio, TV and internet. However, press in Western society should exercise some cautions on several sensitive topics for many persons, such as religious beliefs of other people. Several months, one Danish paper published some materials which depicted and derided Prophet Mohammed. The publication led negative reactions on the part of several Muslim countries such as Saudi Arabia, Libya and other Middle Eastern nations where mass calls for the boycott of Danish goods, especially agricultural ones, were heard and implemented and even ambassadress of in Denmark were recalled. In spite of this reaction (or maybe just due to it), French newspaper France Soir and German newspaper decided to follow the example of Danish colleagues by publishing some cartoon material on Christian god as well as Mohamed. The newspaper said it had legitimate right to publish whatever cartoons it wanted to and that it had caricatured various Gods in the past.
As France Soir experience some financial problems, it wants and is eager to attract additional readers and to expose itself to the public. Whereas French paper stated that the pictures were harmless and could not be regarded as offensive or derogatory, another Western European newspaper Geram Wielt said that it regretted that Danish newspaper apologized for publishing pictures. According to the newspaper there is a legitimate right in western society to criticize or laugh at all aspects of the life (religious ones included). One should remember what scandal such publication caused in Muslim countries. Such dairy companies as Arla foods lost several million dollars and even to fire several workers due to the negative impact of the boycott. Some of the countries even recalled their ambassadors or closed their embassies in the Denmark. In spite of the fact that such steps apparently will be futile (as the Government could not exercise their control over the mass media in democratic country), nevertheless some reactions in Muslim countries should be studied and the main questions should be addressed.
Certainly one could hardly doubt that Government doesn’t influence editorial policy of independent newspapers. However, in many instances there are some self –constrain checks. Few of well-established and reputable newspapers would even think to stop to the level of poorly educated person who derives some strange from of pleasure from provoking or offending feelings of other people. However, those newspapers that experience either financial difficulties or the lack of readers might publish whatever they could in a desperate attempt to gain the attention of the public and thus mass media. That is why mild reaction or no reaction altogether is in my opinion the best option to prevent the recurrence of these publications as they are aimed moistly to bring the exact reaction that Danish cartoons http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/698 brought. As every copywriter knows the content of the article might either induce person for some actions as advertising copywriting does or may reduce his incentive to act altogether.
