A start: xenophobia being highlighted.

[Gabbal]

Council of Europe to 'Officially' Urge Action on Denmark

By Emre Demir, Strasbourg

Published: Friday, February 10, 2006

zaman.com

 

 

The Council of Europe will release an official report to urge the Danish administration to take action against hostility and discrimination towards Muslims; two concepts prompted by a Danish newspaper's publication of cartoons insulting Islam's most revered figure, the Prophet Mohammed.

 

 

The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance, ECRI, a subset of the European Commission, is sketching a new report on Denmark which should be released by April at the latest. Denmark was cautioned over the cartoons crisis twice before. The ECRI will reportedly use tougher language to criticize the Rasmussen administration this time, as there is an intense atmosphere of hostility towards the Muslims in Europe.

 

 

It was Danish politicians as well as the national news media that played the leading role in the spread of anti-Islamic views, the 2001 ECRI report read.

 

 

The Danish government left accusations made by the 2001 report unanswered. One other report was also released last year after it was approved by the Committee of Ministers, a subset of the Council of Europe, that denounced the Danish news media for rousing feelings of racism and discrimination among members of society, and that asked the Copenhagen officials to take specific actions over its fight against the hostility towards Islam.

 

 

The European news media was also condemned by Rene van der Linden, Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly President, for re-printing the Mohammed cartoons. "Democratic pluralism requires full respect for different religions and faiths. Freedoms accompany responsibilities. With its huge influence over millions of people, the news media has to use its power to strengthen peace ties," said Mr. Linden during his official visit to Greece yesterday (Thursday).

[Dhimbil]

^Good on them.