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Iranian Lawmakers Condemn Danish, Dutch Media for Reprinting Anti-Islam Cartoon


Iranian lawmakers have condemned Danish and Dutch newspapers for reprinting a satirical cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad.

A letter signed by three quarters of Iran's legislators says publication of the cartoon is a satanic act that desecrates the Islamic religion.

The Iranian lawmakers say President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad should respond by reviewing Iran's trade and political relations with Denmark and the Netherlands.

Danish and Dutch newspapers printed a cartoon last week showing the prophet with a turban resembling a bomb. It was one of several cartoons originally published in Denmark 2005 that sparked violent protests in Muslim countries.

Many Muslims consider any depictions of the prophet offensive.

Danish media republished the controversial image to show solidarity with the cartoonist, a day after police revealed an alleged plot to kill him.

Danish police arrested two Tunisians and a Dane of Moroccan descent last Tuesday on suspicion of involvement in the plot.

A group of Danish lawmakers canceled a trip to Iran that was due to begin Monday after Iran's government demanded they apologize for the reprinting of the cartoon. The lawmakers said they cannot apologize for freedom of expression by the media.

In 2006, riots triggered by the cartoons killed about 50 people in Muslim countries and led to attacks on several Danish embassies.

Some information for this report was provided by Reuters.

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