Danish cartoon riots – embassies burned
On 4 February 2006 crowds in Damascus attacked the building housing the Danish, Swedish and Chilean embassies, then the Norwegian embassy, in protest at the cartoons. The Norwegian mission was set on fire, and Denmark and Norway urged their citizens to leave Syria. On 5 February demonstrators in Beirut set fire to the building housing the Danish mission. The BBC reported that a nearby church and other property were also attacked, that at least 18 people were injured, and that Lebanon's Interior Minister, Hassan Sabeh, announced his resignation. SMH reported that up to five people were thought to have died in the violence.
Australian angle: on 4 February 2006 the Courier-Mail in Brisbane published one of the cartoons, and SMH reported it was the only Australian paper to do so. Abdul Jalal of the Islamic Council of Queensland said: "Queenslanders will not respond to that". The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils condemned the publication. Attorney-General Philip Ruddock said: "nothing justifies violence", adding that the media had a duty to act responsibly.
The government condemned the protests but did not condemn publication. It updated travel advice for Iran, Syria, Israel and Lebanon. It closed its office in Ramallah, which shared a building with the Danes, and took steps to secure Danish consulates in Australia. Foreign Minister Alexander Downer told Parliament: "We urge people to desist and remain calm" and "Freedom of speech is a cornerstone of a democratic society." Opposition Leader Kim Beazley said: "It's an offensive cartoon and it shouldn't be printed".
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