Several hundred people gather for a come-as-you are demonstration for peace and understanding
As many as a thousand people gathered in the shadow of the offices of newspaper Jyllands-Posten Sunday afternoon to demonstrate in support of dialogue in the intensifying debate over the newspaper's caricatures of the prophet Mohammed.
The demonstration, attended by ethnic Danes as well as Danes of Muslim heritage, was organised by movie director Annette K. Olesen.
'We can only hope that our call for dialog will be heard,' Olesen said to public broadcaster DR. 'Loud and violent protests are always more interesting than a peaceful one. But we believe that there are a lot of people in Denmark who feel the same way do.'
One person addressing the crowd was Danish-Muslim comedian Omar Marzouk. He tried to lighten the atmosphere by poking fun at the on-going boycott of Danish goods in the Mid-East.
'I'm an Arab. Should I boycott myself?' he jested.
Despite the humorous tone, Marzouk said that he was concerned that Denmark was developing a reputation as a neo-Nazi, anti-Islamic country.
Marzouk, who has performed as a comedian for a decade added that, for him, the Jyllands-Posten cartoons had backfired as a way to create more freedom of speech.
'In all the years I've been a stand-up comedian in Denmark, I've never been afraid that someone would twist my words. Now I am careful what I say,' he said.
