Support Freedom of Speech

A petition of support for Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen and the Danish people who have shown tremendous resolve in their defense of basic human rights, the freedom of speech. Despite acts of violence by those, predominantly in the Muslim world, who would censor newspapers for publishing a series of caricatures, the right of free expression must be preserved for all. Please show your support for freedom of expression by signing the petition below which will be presented to the Danish Prime Minister.

Background Information:

On September 30, 2005, Denmark's largest newspaper Jyllands-Posten published 12 cartoons depicting the prophet Mohammed as part of an ongoing Danish debate about freedom of speech. The publication of the cartoons led 11 ambassadors to demand that the Danish government take legal action against Jyllands-Posten for offending Muslims all over the world. The Danish government refused to take any legal action, pointing to the freedom of speech guaranteed by the Danish constitution.

In late December 2005, the Arab League criticized the Danish government's position, which led to widespread media attention and a boycott of Danish products throughout the Muslim world in January. Several Muslim governments called on Denmark to issue an official apology and angry mobs burned Danish flags and pictures of the Danish Prime Minister. The Danish government still refuses to apologize on behalf of an independent news organization such as Jyllands-Posten, and newspapers in France and Germany have shown their sympathy with Jyllands-Posten by reprinting the cartoons in recent days.