Tehran, NU Online
The 57-member Organization of the Islamic Conference on Monday denounced a video lampooning Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) produced by a far-right Danish party and partly screened by public television.

"The OIC spokesman deplores the act of caricaturing the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) ... by the youth members of the Danish People's Party and the same being shown regrettably on the state television," a statement from the bloc's secretariat said.

<>"The running of the footage affected the sensibilities of civilized people and the religious beliefs of one fifth of humanity.

"The OIC has always favored upholding freedom of expression.

Simultaneously it is the ethical, moral and political responsibility of public opinion leaders, governments, state and civil society institutions in the West to discourage acts of intolerance by condemning them."

Denmark's TV2 channel last month broadcast excerpts from a video made by members of the extreme-right Danish People's Party insulting Prophet Mohammed (PBUH).

The publication in September 2005 of 12 caricatures of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) by the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten, sparked outrage and weeks of violent protests across the Muslim world. (irn/dar)