Iranian embassy condemns Azeri weekly for abusive remarks on Jesus, Mary
Turan news agency
11 Feb 06
BAKU
The Iranian embassy in Azerbaijan today condemned offensive remarks
published "in a Baku weekly" about Jesus Christ and Virgin Mary.
The embassy said that the offensive remarks could have appeared in the
newspaper either because of a lack of knowledge of the Koran's chapter
on Virgin Mary or that they were aimed at fomenting hostility between
Muslims and Christians.
The Iranian embassy, which is critical of the publication of Prophet
Muhammad's cartoons in the Western media, also strongly condemned the
offensive statements against Jesus Christ and Virgin Mary.
Interestingly enough, the Iranian embassy was the first to react to
the newspaper articles. Turan news agency has found out that the
newspaper which published the offensive remarks about Jesus Christ and
Virgin Mary was Yeni Xabar, a little-known weekly.
The author of the articles, Natiq Muxtarli, says the articles were a
response to the Western media for its insulting Prophet Muhammad and
[violating] freedom of speech.
The chairman of Azerbaijan's Media Council, Aflatun Amasov, has
condemned the articles in Yeni Xabar. Amasov said the publication of
such articles were against the Constitution of the country and also
the media law and the Code of Journalism.
[Passage omitted: Amasov urges journalists not to hurt religious
feelings of people]
Turan news agency
11 Feb 06
BAKU
The Iranian embassy in Azerbaijan today condemned offensive remarks
published "in a Baku weekly" about Jesus Christ and Virgin Mary.
The embassy said that the offensive remarks could have appeared in the
newspaper either because of a lack of knowledge of the Koran's chapter
on Virgin Mary or that they were aimed at fomenting hostility between
Muslims and Christians.
The Iranian embassy, which is critical of the publication of Prophet
Muhammad's cartoons in the Western media, also strongly condemned the
offensive statements against Jesus Christ and Virgin Mary.
Interestingly enough, the Iranian embassy was the first to react to
the newspaper articles. Turan news agency has found out that the
newspaper which published the offensive remarks about Jesus Christ and
Virgin Mary was Yeni Xabar, a little-known weekly.
The author of the articles, Natiq Muxtarli, says the articles were a
response to the Western media for its insulting Prophet Muhammad and
[violating] freedom of speech.
The chairman of Azerbaijan's Media Council, Aflatun Amasov, has
condemned the articles in Yeni Xabar. Amasov said the publication of
such articles were against the Constitution of the country and also
the media law and the Code of Journalism.
[Passage omitted: Amasov urges journalists not to hurt religious
feelings of people]