Foreign Minister Tuomioja sees Muhammad caricature row as "cultural misunderstanding"
Erkki Tuomioja
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The uproar that arose in Muslim countries over cartoons in a Danish newspaper depicting the Prophet Muhammad is seen by Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja (SDP) primarily as a misunderstanding between cultures, rather than as any real conflict.
Speaking at a seminar of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs on Tuesday, Tuomioja regretted that the dispute over the caricatures had been used by "extremist elements in both cultures". He added: "It is important that we make a clear analysis of the reasons that got the anger to flare up among Muslims and other people of faith."
As Tuomioja sees it, the cartoons sparked anger in Muslim countries because after the terror attacks of September 11th, 2001, many Muslims noticed that the West was linking all of Islam into one hostile whole.
Tuomioja sees a "silent revolution" going on in Europe.
Half a century ago most of Europe's Muslims had come here to work, and expected to return home one day, for which reason, Tuomioja said, many of them shielded themselves against European influences, rather than trying integrate into European society. Their children have taken on a different attitude.
The division of the world into two hostile blocks - Islamic, and non-Islamic - needs to be rethought, in the Foreign Minister's point of view.
"Religious principles should not be confused with origins. Euroepan Muslims should simply be seen as Muslims, and should not forever be considered North African, Pakistani, or Turkish Muslims", Tuomioja said.
Foreign Minister Tuomioja has previously said that one of Finland's main goals in the EU Presidency, which begins in July, is to promote dialogue among religious denominations.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 15.3.2006 - TODAY |
 Foreign Minister Tuomioja sees Muhammad caricature row as "cultural misunderstanding" |
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