Reuters

Riyadh, Oct 10: A fresh cartoon controversy is brewing over Prophet Mohammad, with the Danes again getting involved in the row for allegedly ridiculing the Prophet.

Danish state TV on Friday broadcast amateur video footage showing members of the anti-immigrant Danish People's Party (DPP) at a summer camp in August, drinking, singing and taking part in a competition to draw images mocking the Prophet.

The 57-nation Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) was first to condemn a new round of Danish cartoons ridiculing the Prophet Mohammad, saying the values of tolerance were shrinking in Europe.

"Muslims have noted with concern that the values of tolerance are eroding and there is now shrinking space for others' religious, social and cultural values in the West,'' said a statement sent to Reuters by the Jeddah-based OIC, the world's largest Islamic grouping.

''The OIC spokesman deplores the act of caricaturing of Prophet Mohammad by the youth members of the Danish Peoples Party and this being shown, regrettably, on state television,'' the statement said.

''The running of the footage affected the sensibilities of civilised people and religious beliefs of one fifth of humanity,'' it said, adding that Muslims around the world had so far shown restraint.

Just over a year ago violence ensued after the Danish daily Jyllands-Posten published cartoons of the Prophet, including one showing him with a bomb in his turban.

Protests led to the deaths of over 50 people in Asia, Africa and the West Asia.

Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen has denounced the DPP members for drawing the humiliating cartoons.

Senior DPP members refused to apologise and party leader Pia Kjaersgaard criticised media for airing the footage of what she called a private party.