New Zealand embassy staffs in Muslim countries are on high alert after two New Zealand papers published controversial cartoons of Prophet Mohammed this week.
"The posts closest to the action have been instructed to contact (us) by phone overnight if there were any issues, and there have been no responses," Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman Rob Hole said today.
"We continue to monitor it very closely."
The concerns have increased follow protests at the Danish Embassy in Syria's capital, Damascus yesterday.
The images have been re-published in Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Hungary and New Zealand.
Two Fairfax papers – The Dominion Post in Wellington and The Press in Christchurch – published the cartoons yesterday.
New Zealand has embassies in Tehran, Iran, and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and are in the process of establishing an embassy in Cairo, Egypt, Mr Hole said.
," Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman Rob Hole said today. Mr Hole said
"We've also advised our posts in other Muslim countries in South East Asia and in Europe where there have been protests.
"At this stage New Zealand doesn't appear to have been singled out."
It is not only New Zealand citizens stationed overseas, but also primary export industry to Muslim nations that faces potential risk following comments by Iran to review its trade ties with countries that published the cartoons
Meat and Wool New Zealand chairman Jeff Grant said thepapers' decision to publish the images had the potential to damage the long-standing high reputation of New Zealand exports.
"We've had an association with Iran, for example, for now 40 years – it's a relationship that's been developed over a long period of time," Mr Grant said
The greatest risk lay in the New Zealand sheep export industry
Mr Grant estimated $100 million of sheep meat was exported to Iran annually
Dairy products were also a major export – a potential risk for Fonterra, NewZealand's largest dairy export company
Mr Hole said the ministry had not yet received any formal advice regarding New Zealand's exports to the Middle East, but the issue was being watched very closely.
Dominion Post Tim Pankhurst said on Friday his paper's publication of the controversial cartoons was an issue of solidarity and supporting press freedom, and he was not setting out to deliberately antagonise the Muslim communities of New Zealand.
Ethnic Affairs Minister Chris Carter said yesterday both newspapers had ignored their social responsibility and undermined New Zealand's reputation as a tolerant country
He said that although press freedom was important, it was also important to
respect other people's beliefs
Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres said the controversy following the cartoons' publication has highlighted a need for dialogue on press freedom, and the responsibility of the press in exercising that freedom
"The publication of the cartoons has caused great offence to Muslims, and
one has to ask what media purpose has been served by their publication."
Mr de Bres called for dialogue between different media organisations in New Zealand, as well as with religious communities, on how press freedom can be protected and exercised without causing offence.
"There is clearly a difference of view even among our newspapers about the issue in this instance, with our largest newspaper, the New Zealand Herald, deciding not to publish the cartoons, and two other papers taking the opposite view."
Mr de Bres said people who were offended by the publication can complain to the newspapers, and further to the New Zealand Press Council.
He said the national inter-faith forum being held at Parliament February 26-27 would be an opportunity to address the issue.
05-02-2006, 12:03 PM
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