COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Feb. 16 (UPI) -- Muslim clerics Friday chastised Danish newspapers for reprinting cartoons of Mohammed and criticized teenagers for rioting in reaction to the cartoons.
The cartoons outraged Muslims inside and outside Denmark in 2006. The issue was revived with the arrest of a group of men who allegedly planned to kill the cartoonist who drew Mohammed with a bomb in his turban, Copenhagen Post reported.
Mostafa Chendid, addressing a congregation of 1,000 at a Copenhagen mosque Friday, blamed the Danish news media for fomenting anti-Muslim feelings -- and especially for reprinting the bomb cartoon. Then he addressed the young men in his flock.
"Mohammed did not teach you to burn schools, cars and public buildings," Chendid said. "He taught you to behave in a civilized manner."
Iman Abdul Wahid Petersen, preaching at another mosque, also criticized the newspapers.
"The Danish media have not understood that it is important to have impartial grounds in any debate," he said. "It is not impartial to spit your opponent in the face."
