Reference has been made in Pakistani media to the decision of a Norwegian periodical to publish the drawings of the Prophet Muhammad that were published by the Danish newspaper Jyllandsposten last year.
The Embassy would like to inform you that the periodical Magazinet is a minor periodical with 3 weekly issues that in Pakistani terms would be called a secterian publication. The decision to print the drawings has not been accused of violating Norwegian law, which is based on the freedom of expression. Freedom of expression is a constitutional right and one of the mainstays of Norwegian society. This also entails tolerance for views that are not shared by everyone. None of the leading Norwegian media have printed similar offensive illustrations or utterances.
The Norwegian government condemns any action or statement that expresses contempt for a person on the basis of his or her religion or ethnic background. Norway has always supported efforts to combat religious intolerance. We consider these efforts to be essential for preventing distrust and conflicts between people. Tolerance, mutual respect and dialogue are fundamental values both in Norwegian society and in our foreign policy. Utterances such as these caricature drawings are not conducive to fostering trust and respect between people of different faiths and ethnic backgrounds. On the contrary, they encourage distrust and confrontation. The Norwegian Government has therefore clearly stated that this incident in a Norwegian magazine is unfortunate and deplorable.
This letter is sent to all Norwegians living in Pakistan who have registered with the Embassy, in order to inform you of the above facts and view of our Government. The Embassy would appreciate being informed of any response or comment you may have encountered in this matter. So far public reaction in Pakistan has been very limited and it is our hope that the deplorable decision of a minor publication is understood not to reflect Norwegian views or values. The Embassy sees no reason to change the current travel advisory to Pakistan.
Best regards
Janis Bjørn Kanavin
Ambassador