Copenhagen, Denmark - A popular Muslim preacher and two Islamic scholars called for reconciliation between the West and the Islamic world following the uproar over the Prophet Muhammad cartoons, but another panelist at a conference demanded that the Danish government apologize.
"We feel there are forces of extremism which are aiming to light fires and transform Denmark from a peaceful country to a country which will suffer from conflicts," said Amr Khaled, an Egyptian preacher known for his youthful style and his sermons applying Islam to day-to-day modern life.
Khaled suggested that a boycott against Danish goods in Arab countries would stop if Danish people and their government reached out to them — for example, by initiatives to promote small businesses or health care.
Other Muslim panelists at the conference in Copenhagen struck a harsher note, saying Western countries had underestimated how insulted Muslims were by the 12 cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad published by Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten and reprinted by other Western media.
"We request an official apology from your government to the Muslim nation and to the Muslims in Denmark," said Tariq al-Suweidan, an Islamic scholar from Kuwait. He also demanded that the
European Union enact a law "that forbids the insult to religious figures."
Despite massive Muslims protests and in some cases violent attacks on Danish embassies, the center-right government in Copenhagen has refused to apologize, saying it cannot be held responsible for the actions of an independent newspaper. Critics say Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen exacerbated the crisis by declining to meet with Muslim ambassadors who protested the drawings, one of which showed Muhammad wearing a turban shaped as a bomb.
Islamic law is interpreted to forbid any depictions of the Prophet Muhammad for fear they could lead to idolatry.
"We don't agree on burning flags ... or attacks on embassies, but we are not willing to sit and do nothing," al-Suweidan said, defending the boycott. "We're sending a very strong message. If the Danish people do something about it, the boycott will stop."
Bishop Karsten Nissen, of the western Denmark city of Viborg, said he understood that Muslims were insulted by the drawings, but added that Muslim countries don't always respect other religions.
"In my heart, I am in agony and distress when I look at the freedom of religion in the Muslim world," Nissen said.
About 50 youths attended the conference — half of them Danish and the other half from predominantly Muslim countries, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Morocco and Jordan. Some of the Danes, while admitting they had learned much from the dispute, said Muslim countries needed to understand how important the freedom of speech is in Denmark.
"Freedom of speech shouldn't be absolute," said Habib al-Jaffry, an Islamic scholar from Yemen, noting that many European countries don't allow anti-Semitic speech. "We must come to an understanding of rules governing freedom of expression."
Jyllands-Posten has apologized for offending Muslims, but stands by its decision to print the drawings, citing the freedom of speech.
Some Islamic leaders have criticized the Muslim panelists for coming to Denmark, saying there could be no dialogue without an official apology from the Nordic country.
But Khaled, a 38-year-old preacher who is popular among young Muslims and women, said it was time for moderate forces on both sides to come together and improve their mutual understanding.
"We have come to say that Islam is a giving religion, and Denmark can benefit from this religion," he said.