The publication of the offensive cartoons in Denmark raised many questions about what should be the appropriate response. Many ideas were bandied about and of course the usual pattern of Muslim response with demonstrations and rallies took its course.

The crux of the matter was whether focusing on the issue will create greater awareness of the cartoons. In the end that’s exactly what happened. For six months before the matter gained international attention, the cartoon issue was confined to a vigorous exchange between some Muslim leaders and the Danish newspapers. Perhaps a few thousand people in Denmark had at that stage viewed the cartoon. The world knew nothing about what was taking place. Then it transpired that the matter was put on the agenda at an Islamic conference in Cairo by the Danish ulema and was picked up by the Saudi delegates. They took the matter home and began a campaign calling for the boycott of Danish products. That,s when the international media picked it up and the global Muslim community became aware of the issue. The controversy became a raging fire and Muslim anger was in some instances uncontrollable.

The backlash from the Muslim world was met with even more arrogance from those who supported the cartoonists and from other assorted anti-Muslim bigots. They decided to republish the cartoons on hundreds of websites. The result was that millions of people saw the cartoons. Some commentators said that initially relatively few people had viewed the cartoons and because of the Muslim reaction millions more saw it. They concluded that Muslims had therefore acted in a manner that was more damaging and therefore counterproductive. At that point one may say that such an argument sounded quite reasonable and rational.

The counter argument is that no affront or insult to Islam should go unanswered no matter how relatively insignificant. Nor should any reaction be muted by considerations of apossible negative fallout. In short, the message was that one should do what need to be done and should not try to anticipate the outcome. In fact, that is the core of Muslim belief:: that the destiny of all things are ultimately and totally in His hands. Muslims are therefore urged to do the right thing and leave the consequences in the hands of He who is the best of planners.

The bigots decided to republish the cartoons in 17 Danish newspapers in response to a unproved claim that a death threat was made against one of the cartoonists. It was then that the ”The Messenger unites us Campaign” was born in order to take the Muslim response to another level. It mobilized the media and governments in the Arab world in an unprecedented unity of purpose. This bold new initiative which decided on both legal and economic action made many in Europe and elsewhere to sit up and take notice. Diplomats began calling with frantic requests for a rethink of the boycott campaign. This was quite a dramatic change of attitude from the previous one of showing utter contempt for Muslim concerns and sensitivities.

The Campaign also gave notice that it was going to tackle the transgressions of Al Jazeera TV and the offensive film that the Dutch politician, Geert Wilders, was going to release. A week ago the Dutch government gave an undertaking that it will take ”serious action” to stop the screening of the film. At the time of going to press, we learnt that the plug has been pulled on the website on which the film was going to be shown. Now that,s something to really crow about.

Could this be a historic turning point? Can we celebrate this as a final victory? They attacked us with their cartoons; we responded with street marches and attacks on embassies; they republished the cartoons; we started a full scale, united economic and legal campaign; they back down. We are hopeful that at long last the penny has dropped – that the West is now realizing that freedom of expression does not apply to certain important matters. Like the Holocaust is deemed to be sacred and criticism of it is legally outlawed in many countries so also should insulting the Prophet (pbuh) be regarded as totally unacceptable.

When the West takes the necessary steps to officially stop the demonization of Islam and Muslims then only can there be a move towards true reconciliation and an end to the dangerous and unnecessary polarization that is the current reality.