On Thursday February 9th, the Calgary based Jewish Free Press re-published the offensive cartoons and the very next day the Calgary Jewish Community Council issued a press release and stated that the publication "does not speak for the Jewish community of Calgary," and that "The Calgary Jewish Community Council, as the representative body of the Jewish community of Calgary, would not have published the cartoons out of sensitivity to the fact that they are offensive to Muslims." Their release further stated that: "We hope that the controversy of the past few weeks will lead to an open discussion about mutual and reciprocal respect between faiths." The full text of the release is re-produced below.

Also on February 9th, the Canadian Jewish Congress stated in a press release that: "The decision by all those who chose to publish the cartoons is inexcusably provocative, insensitive and disrespectful of Muslim believers." The CJC release further stated that: “We join those Muslims and non-Muslims who have been appalled by the response to the publication of the cartoons and condemn those groups and regimes that have fanned the flames for their own political ends." In addition, the release stated that “Freedom of expression and the protection of vulnerable minorities from group vilification are fundamental values of a secular, pluralistic democracy. These two values must be delicately balanced against one another." Also, on February 10th, in another press release CJC condemned the recent acts of vandalism on two Montreal area mosques which were pelted with stones. (See: http://www.cjc.ca/template.php?action=news&story=772 )

Commenting on these statements, MCM President Salam Elmenyawi stated that he appreciated the principled positions the two Jewish organizations have taken.

"Their words have fostered a spirit of goodwill between the Jewish and Muslim communities and we hope a dialogue of mutual respect will continue to take place between our respective communities so that we can be an example of peaceful co-existence to the rest of the world."

Elmenyawi also stated that MCM was saddened over the Jewish Free Press's decision to publish the offensive cartoons and feels that in doing so the publication exhibited poor taste and judgement in not taking the religious sensitivities of others into consideration.

"What constructive purpose does it serve to re-publish these offensive cartoons now other than to provoke and create further hard feelings?" he asked.

ACTION REQUESTED

Please do take the time to write the Calgary Jewish Community Council and the Canadian Jewish Congress at the contact information below, thank them for their positions and that you appreciate their efforts in working towards fostering open and respectful dialogue between our communities here in Canada.

Please cc MCM in your correspondence at: info@muslimcouncil.org

February 10, 2006
CALGARY - Calgary Jewish Community Council President Nelson Halpern made the following comment regarding the publication in a Calgary newspaper, The Jewish Free Press, of controversial cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed:

"The Jewish Free Press is an independent and privately owned newspaper and does not speak for the Jewish community of Calgary.

"The Calgary Jewish Community Council, as the representative body of the Jewish community of Calgary, would not have published the cartoons out of sensitivity to the fact that they are offensive to Muslims.

"Our community has itself been offended many times by anti-Semitic cartoons which have appeared in Western and Middle Eastern media. We believe that the expression of free speech should in all circumstances and from all perspectives be pursued with tolerance, respect and understanding for religious beliefs.

"We hope that the controversy of the past few weeks will lead to an open discussion about mutual and reciprocal respect between faiths."

Contact: Myrna Linder
Executive Director
Calgary Jewish Community Council
403-444-3151 (office)
403-830-9256 (cell)
mlinder@cjcc.ca

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CJC comments on cartoon controversy and ensuing violence
Feb 09, 2006

TORONTO – Canadian Jewish Congress National President Ed Morgan made the following statement regarding the controversial publication of cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed in newspapers in a number of countries including Canada:

“We are saddened by a situation that has gotten entirely out of hand. The decision by all those who chose to publish the cartoons is inexcusably provocative, insensitive and disrespectful of Muslim believers. At the same time, we strongly denounce the verbally and physically violent reaction to their publication by so many of those same believers.

“We commend Canada’s Muslim community for the civility with which it has protested and those media who have decided not to republish the cartoons. We regret that there are some in the media and elsewhere who have taken the misguided step of using these cartoons as a means to defend freedom of expression.

“We join those Muslims and non-Muslims who have been appalled by the response to the publication of the cartoons and condemn those groups and regimes that have fanned the flames for their own political ends. We stand in solidarity with the Danish people whose institutions are being attacked and whose products are being boycotted, and with whom we have a special historic connection. We remember with gratitude the exceptional role Denmark played in rescuing its Jewish citizens from the Holocaust.

“Freedom of expression and the protection of vulnerable minorities from group vilification are fundamental values of a secular, pluralistic democracy. These two values must be delicately balanced against one another. We hope that that calm re-establishes itself so that this issue can be discussed in an atmosphere of mutual respect, without intimidation.”

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Contact:
Wendy Lampert
National Director of Communications
Canadian Jewish Congress
416-631-5844 (office)
wlampert@on.cjc.ca
www.cjc.ca