Sudan's capital gears up for mass rally against Danish cartoons
Feb. 26, 2008 (Khartoum NSV) - Muslims in Khartoum are due to be on the streets on Wednesday to protest the republishing of Danish cartoons seen as disrespectful to the Islamic prophet, Muhammad (Pbuh).
Khartoum is to be grounded by Wednesday 27th from 10am till noon.
Islamic scholars and religious authorities plan to demonstrate in a two direction lines before ending the demonstration in front of the Republican Palace along Nile Avenue. "Sudan is a country that respects the Prophet the most; tomorrow we shall be in our millions in the streets of Khartoum," said one of the organizers.
On behalf of Sudanese Trade Union, Yousif Jafaar revealed after the meeting with the forum that "the demonstration will begin at 10am from eastern wing of Khartoum University." Islamic theologians, political forces and civil bodies will address the demonstration which is yet to be seen whether will turn violent against western embassies and organizations.
Another prominent organizer of the event invited public to take part fully in the event; "All Sudanese who care about the cause of Allah, the Almighty should come out tomorrow.â€
From the east at Khartoum University there will be one line and from the west the demonstration will begin from Nilein University. The one from Khartoum University will proceed until the UN headquarters and present a memo, then proceed to the European Union office. The western procession will link up with the eastern one to end at the presidential palace where Islamic scholars who are organizing the rally will address the crowd.
Dr. Husein Abu Saleh, the leader of the Islamic Forum will hand a memo to Omer Beshir in the palace.
Few days ago in Khartoum, President Omer Beshir ordered directives to boycott Danish goods throughout the country because of the recent reappearance of the famous Danish cartoons against Prophet Muhammed (pbuh). Many Muslims in the country are furious after Danish press republished the cartoons that are viewed as offending to the Islamic Prophet. The satirical cartoons triggered massive demonstrations throughout the Arab and Muslim countries.
Sudan, a country ruled by Islamic fundamentalists is always displaying its anger openly on things they consider abusive to Islamic faith.
Three months ago a British school teacher was imprisoned for days when she was sentenced after she reportedly named a teddy bear Mohamed. She received presidential pardon after serving few days in Sudanese jail.
When Denmark published drawings depicting Prophet Muhammed (pbuh), Sudan was one of the first countries to react against the newspapers. The artists and owners of the papers received curses and death threats from many quarters.
“Denmark's five major daily newspapers republished one of the 12 drawings of the Prophet Mohammad which angered Muslims around the world, as a protest against a plot to murder one of the cartoonists,†said one newspaper. “A Danish citizen of Moroccan descent and two Tunisians were arrested on Tuesday in western Denmark for planning to murder 73-year-old Kurt Westergaard, a cartoonist at Jyllands-Posten, the Danish paper that originally published the drawings in September 2005,†it added.
