Statement on controversial cartoons

9.40.18pm GMT Sun 12th Feb 2006

Sarah Teather MP and Satnam Kaur Khalsa at Trafalgar Square rally

Key figures from West London Liberal Democrats, including Satnam Kaur Khalsa, Sarah Teather MP and Harjinder Singh yesterday joined about 5,000 UK mainstream Muslims at a rally in London's Trafalgar Square against controversial cartoons satirising the Prophet Muhammad. The event aimed to explain the views of moderate Muslims towards cartoons published in a Danish newspaper which led to worldwide protests. Organisers wanted to dissociate the mainstream Muslim community from a minority of extremists.

Satnam Kaur Khalsa, Lib Dem parliamentary spokesperson for Feltham & Heston, said:

"Liberal Democrats recognise that these cartoons are offensive to many Muslims. In a society where people of different faiths and none live side by side, it is incumbent on us all to think about the impact of our words and actions.

"Some of the reaction to the cartoons has been completely disproportionate. We unreservedly condemn those who have resorted to violence. The actions of those demonstrators in London who openly called for acts of murder and terrorism are distasteful."

Andrew Dakers, Lib Dem parliamentary spokesperson for Brentford & Isleworth, added:

"A media which is free from censorship and state control allows for the frank exchange of views. Where offence is taken, individuals and groups have the right to make their views and feelings heard. The solution is not censorship, or violence, but competing speech. Parliament rightly rejected government proposals last week which could have criminalised the reproduction of these images in the UK.

"The European newspapers which republished these cartoons were acting within their rights, but were not acting with good judgment. This was always likely to provoke further anger and resentment. "

In a speech at the rally Harjinder Singh, Chair of Hounslow Borough Liberal Democrats said:

"I believe in freedom. I want to live in a country where I am free to be a Sikh, where you are free to be Muslims, where everybody is free to follow their religion, their belief.

"I believe in respect. I should respect people of other faiths or no faith, and people of other faiths or no faith should show the same respect to all.

"Freedom without mutual respect, without responsibility is not real freedom."