This just in from the Islamic Republic of Norway. They used to have something there called…let’s see…I think it was “freedom of speech.” But that was in the time of jahiliyyah. “Editor apologizes for caricatures,” from Aftenposten, with thanks to Fjordman:
Editor Vebjørn Selbekk of the Christian weekly Magazinet issued Friday a complete apology for his decision to reprint the controversial caricatures of the prophet Mohammed originally run in Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten.
At a joint press conference with the Islamic Council Norway at the Ministry of Labor and Social Inclusion, Selbekk expressed his regrets.
“I personally address the Muslim community to say that I am sorry that your religious feelings are offended by what we did on Jan. 10 when Magazinet published a facsimile of the Danish drawings from Jyllands-Posten. It was never our intention to hurt anyone,” Selbekk said.
Selbekk admitted that he had not fully understood how offensive the publication of the caricatures was, and praised Norway’s Muslim community for their conduct in response.
“The Muslim community in Norway has tackled this in a dignified and restrained way. You deserve respect and credit for this,” Selbekk said, and the editor pointed to the press conference as an example of the strength of Norway’s multi-cultural society.
Yes, yes, multicultural. Except that some cultures are more multi than others.