A delegation of dhimmis from the Danish Lutheran Church has gone to Egypt to meet with senior Islamic clerics (some of whom have openly endorsed suicide bombing and jihad against infidels) and apologize for the cartoons of blasphemy: Danish Church in Egypt to Apologize. (Hat tip: Karl.)

A delegation of bishops and religious men from the Danish Lutheran Church made contacts in Egypt following the worldwide uproar against the offending cartoons of Prophet Mohammed published in a Danish newspaper.

The delegation headed by Bishop of Viborg Karsten Nissen met with Al-Azhar (lgf: search) Sheikh Mohammad Sayed Tantawi, Egyptian Mufti Ali Gomaa and Minister of charitable funds Hamdi Zakzouk. Al-Azhar Sheikh Tantavi explained that the offending cartoons aroused indignation in the Muslim world; however they disapproved some of the demonstrations in various areas.

Steen Skovsgaard, a bishop in the delegation, told Zaman that the cartoons are entirely for provocation. Skovsgard, stressing Muslims and Christians live together in peace, said Danes separated after the events and the majority disapproved the cartoons. He said the freedom of speech did not include humiliation and insult and Muslims can seek remedy through the courts as Denmark is a state of law. Skovsgard, underlining that the crisis is the beginning of a new dialogue rather than a partition, said their tickets were bought by the Danish Foreign Ministry though it was not an official visit.

Bjarne H. Sorensen, Danish ambassador in Cairo, said the Danish Daily apologized for publishing the cartoons and the events should stop. Sorensen, in reply to the question if the cartoons had a provocation purpose, said that it was because of “reciprocal misunderstanding.”

Harald Nielsen, chief of Islam Desk in the Denmark mission organization, said they could not understand “how fast they spread” and felt very sad over the events. Archbishop Michael Fitzgerald, the Vatican’s chief official in charge of interfaith dialogue appointed as apostolic nuncio in Egypt, visited Al-Azhar Sheikh Mohammad Sayed Tantawi before the Danish delegation and said the events should not damage the dialogues between the members of the two religions.