NZ embassy alert over cartoon row

Hundreds of people marched up Queen St protesting at the decision by two New Zealand newspapers to publish the cartoons. Picture / Dean Purcell

New Zealand embassies in Muslim countries have been put on alert over the publication of controversial cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad.

Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman Rob Hole says there is potential for "some reaction" in Islamic countries and in Europe, where the images have been widely published.

Thousands of Syrians stormed the Danish Embassy in Damascus yesterday, setting fires and burning the Danish flag.

And late last night in Beirut, Lebanese Muslims set fire to a building housing the Danish mission. Security forces fired teargas and water cannon and at least 10 protesters were taken to hospital in ambulances.

Anger was also felt in Auckland yesterday as about 800 people marched up Queen St to protest at the publication of the cartoons by the Dominion Post in Wellington and the Press in Christchurch.

TV One has also screened the offending images, including one in which the Prophet is depicted wearing a bomb in his turban.

The Government and exporters are concerned publication of the images risks hurting New Zealand's $1.5 billion in trade with Muslim nations.

Prime Minister Helen Clark described the decision by the two newspapers to publish the cartoons as gratuitous. It was not a matter concerning liberty, but one of "plain and good" manners.

"I don't think this is an issue of the freedom of the press. It is a question of judgment. The publication was gratuitous," she said at Waitangi.

"I think that Governments offshore are well aware that the New Zealand Government stands for respect for all religions and faiths."

She said there had been no contact with Muslim trading partners.

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters said: "It is hard enough to conduct your foreign affairs as a small country without New Zealand enterprises deciding to insult people, such as the whole Arab world."

Yesterday's Auckland protest was noisy but largely peaceful.

The crowd marched from downtown to Aotea Square, bearing placards with slogans such as "Exploitation is not freedom of speech".

A large banner also urged the two papers to "stop blasphemy".

Auckland's diverse Muslim community came out in force; fatherly figures in traditional dress, young men and women in jeans and T-shirts, and women in hijjabs and burqas, and children joined in the chorus of chants of "Allahu Akbar" (God is great).

Pakistan Association general secretary Impaz Khan was pleased with the turnout, but did not want the intensity of feeling to affect the country's international trade.

His group is writing to 52 Muslim countries urging them not to boycott New Zealand products.

The Press editor, Paul Thompson, said it was too early to gauge reader response. "The Press published two of the cartoons in order to show readers what they looked like. There was no intention to insult or offend. Rather the aim was to fully inform readers about an important issue."

The Dominion Post chose not to comment beyond an editorial it published on Saturday which said the decision to run the cartoons had not been taken lightly and was made to defend the right to freedom of speech.

Not to publish out of fear of disturbing Muslim sensibilities "would be to give way in the face of bullying threats", the editorial said.

TVNZ news chief Bill Ralston said the reasons for TV One showing the cartoons on Thursday, Friday and Saturday outweighed potentially offending viewers into a violent backlash and damaging trade relations.

"In this case, we have taken a stand because we believe the principle of the public's right to know and the ability of the public's right to understand is more important than anything else.

"I respect the position the Herald has taken [not to publish the cartoons] but I believe it is wrong. Freedom of information is one of the most vital parts of New Zealand society."

TV3 head of news Mark Jennings said the channel had shown some of the cartoons at the weekend.

"I fully support [Dominion Post editor] Tim Pankhurst and Paul Thompson's decision to run them.

"Freedom of speech and freedom in the media are more important than anything else."

Trade officials last night had quiet concerns over a potential trade fallout, but lambasted the NZ media outlets that published the cartoons.

"The industry does not in any way condone the actions of newspapers and media [in republishing them]," said Meat and Wool NZ chair Jeff Grant.

"These Middle Eastern markets are worth $300 million to $400 million to us. We're internationally well-recognised in terms of halal procedures and highly regarded as an exporter to those countries."

Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres said there was a need for further dialogue on press freedom and the press's responsibility in exercising that freedom.

Two minor skirmishes broke out as yesterday's marchers assembled in Aotea Square to hear cleric Maulana Saleem.

One man, who claimed he had been struck by another marcher, was quickly taken away by police and another man got out of a ute brandishing a flag and chanting slogans of Maori sovereignty.

Several angry marchers were held back by police as the man got back in his vehicle and drove off.

Among the crowd was accountant Hadi Mohammad, who said people could talk freely about their views of Islam, but it was not right to make fun of the Prophet Muhammad.

"We are also New Zealanders; lots of us have kids born in New Zealand, and we have three generations of Muslims living here from different backgrounds."

* The Herald has not printed the cartoons. An editorial at the weekend explained that the press is free to give religious offence if it wishes, but the paper saw no redeeming purpose in the Danish cartoons.