Muslim group loses cartoons libel case in Denmark

[Michael Stuart Kelly]

Muslim group loses cartoons libel case in Denmark

By Gelu Sulugiuc and Rasmus Nord Jorgensen

13 Jul 2007

Reuters

From the article"

A court ruled that Pia Kjaersgaard, leader of the Danish People's Party (DPP), did not libel the Islamic Faith Community when she accused some of its members of treason for travelling to the Middle East to publicise a Danish newspaper's publication of the drawings, which caused a worldwide uproar in 2006.

The court said the term "treason" was not libellous because it was used extensively in public debate. It ordered the plaintiffs, a loose network of Danish Muslim organisations which says it represents 50,000 members, to pay Kjaersgaard 40,000 Danish crowns ($7,400) in costs.

I am glad freedom of speech is being upheld in the Danish courts against religious intimidation. This is as it should be.

Michael