Muslims emphasise on the fact that their religion had not been changed and their script is God's true revelation to the mankind, everything that they do, their customs and rituals cannot be questioned.

However, there is perhaps no point in bothering too much about what others are saying.

We cannot surely make fun of everybody. The recent outrageous cartoons of Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) by so-called liberal press and the resultant fall-out are totally unwarranted. It's a sacrilege and bad taste. The hostile, hatred-filled, volatile world has been rendered more hostile by the irresponsible acts of the Danish press. Certain persons should be kept out of controversy or ridicule. All the prophets Christ, Moses, Abraham, and great men like Gautam Buddha, Ram and Krishna should not be subjected to profanation. They are to be kept out of the purview of over-zealous journalists.

There ought to be a rational and pragmatic limitation of freedom of press and ideas. It should be enjoyed with more responsibility.

SN Mamoon, Dhaka

The letters under "Freedom of Virulent Speech" suggest that Denmark mend the damage done...sooner the better. There are many kinds of terror, these are all illegitimate. Good manners are important. (It was George Bernard Shaw who said that without good manners human society is impossible). Another view expressed is that, it is not enough to protest. It must be backed by action ---to boycott all Danish and French goods together with unconditional apology. And for hurting the feelings of other nations due price must be paid. There should be registration of strong protest against this attack.

Farida S, On e-mail

The Gyllands Posten, the Danish newspaper, recently published the cartoon of the Prophet of Islam Hazrat Mohammad (Pbuh). As a result, all over the world religious Muslims are getting agitated and have burnt embassies and their flags.

According to the principle of the Islam, any kind of cartoon, photograph or painting of the prophet is strictly forbidden. On the other hand, according to the ethics of journalism, journalists don't attack any religious feelings, holy books, prophet or pioneer of any religion. I have watched the odd cartoon on that magazine on e-mail.

This kind of virulent practice will hamper communal peace, religious feelings and intra-religious relation as we noticed and are noticing presently. We, the civil society members all over the world , are trying to make a peaceful and better world. It can be said that 'Civil Society is the sleeping lion of the society'.

M A H Nazim, DU

Of course the publication of the cartoons was wrong and insensitive. The majority of the Muslims protested peacefully, like for instance the Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, while protesting against the publication of the cartoons also congratulated the British press for not publishing the cartoons. To those Muslims who reacted violently, I would like to draw their attention to the experience of the Prophet ( Pbuh) when he was abused during his visit to Taif. In response to the abuses Allah sent an angel to the Prophet (Pbuh) who said to him: "O, Prophet of Allah! I am at your service. If you wish, I can cause the mountains overlooking this town on both sides to collide with each other, so that all the people therein would be crushed to death, or you may suggest any other punishment for them."

The merciful and noble Prophet ( Pbuh) however replied:

"Even if these people do not accept Islam, I do hope from Allah that there will be persons from among their progeny who would worship Allah and serve His cause."

Consequently, I beg the Muslims of today to reflect. Instead of violent protests causing damage to diplomatic missions we should react with dignity as the Prophet did.

Rafiq A. Tschannen, Amman, Jordan