|
Fallout from the Cartoon War
Rift between Germans and Muslims widensHAMBURG, Germany -- More than half of Germans polled feel Muslims living in the country are both an addition and a threat to society, according to a new survey, a 15-point increase compared to a similar study from 1990. However, only 13 percent see Muslims as a threat only. Some 38 percent of polled people said they were afraid of Islam. Roughly a month after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, 54 percent of Germans believed there would be a long-term conflict between the two cultures. In the study published this month, that value has climbed to 60 percent. Norwegians more skeptical of Islam: Nearly half of those polled say they have become more skeptical about Islam as a religion after the global uproar around the Mohammed caricatures. Muslim groups apologize for violence: The web site www.sorrynorwaydenmark.com has attracted attention as a voice of moderation from the Muslim world. "A group of Arab and Muslim youth who live in Arab nations and other places are behind the web site," Ahmad, one of the founders of the site, told Aftenposten.no. "None of us live in Denmark or Norway. We have no other direct connection to these countries other than that some of us have friends there," Ahmad said. "The response has been fantastic. Our inboxes are overflowing with email of support and thanks from Arabs and Muslims, and also from Europeans and Americans," Ahmad told Aftenposten.no. "We never thought we would get so much attention, we just wanted to ask for peace and understanding." Posted by: trailing wife 2006-02-09 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=142078 |