Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre

Magazinet’s rights and responsibilities

Published in Aftenposten, 6 October 2006

Threatened by Islamists

Vebjørn K. Selbekk, the editor of Magazinet, has stated in an article published in Aftenposten on 3 October in connection with the publication of his book Threatened by Islamists that the Government “used Magazinet as a scapegoat” in February’s cartoon controversy. This assertion calls for a response.

I would like first of all to express my understanding for the highly demanding situation Mr Selbekk faced in February, and for the strain it put on him and his family. While the controversy was in full swing, I contacted him to express my support for him as both an editor and fellow human being. Moreover, I encouraged him not to renounce his rights as an editor in the reconciliation process he entered into with the Islamic Council.

Attracted attention

Mr Selbekk stresses the fact that other media outlets also published copies of Jyllands-Posten’s cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad at various times. I have never said that it was only Magazinet that published them. However, it was Magazinet’s article, with a copy of the cartoons as its main illustration, that attracted national and international attention, long before I or any member of the Norwegian Government commented on the matter.

The vast majority of media outlets chose not to print them. I therefore believe that I was correct in saying that in this case there were “no leading Norwegian media outlets that printed the cartoons”. Mr Selbekk states that Magazinet’s article could have been printed in any newspaper. That is correct. The point, however, is that it was not.

Did not go on the offensive

Mr Selbekk believes that Magazinet was the target of a sustained and unfair attack. I can understand that he perceived the situation this way, but I cannot agree that the attack was “government-initiated”, and I cannot under any circumstances agree that the Norwegian Government “went on the offensive” against Magazinet. Magazinet ended up as the focus of the controversy due to the publication of the article and the ensuing reactions. Mr Selbekk decided to print the article with its message that there is a conflict between the West and Islam.

This was and remains his clear right as Magazinet’s editor, and I commend his courage in sticking to his principles in the dispute that followed. During the controversy, Mr Selbekk participated in numerous debates on freedom of expression and conflict between religions. I too participated in some of the debates, and Mr Selbekk and I disagreed on several issues. Disagreement is, however, part of living in a democracy.

When considering these events retrospectively, we must not forget the situation as it was in February, with burning embassies and threats against Norwegians in many parts of the world. In all interviews in the national and international media, I emphasised that we have freedom of expression, and that the Government cannot and will not interfere with an editor’s responsibility. I also spoke out strongly against the violence and vandalism to which many resorted. However, I also stated that I regretted that many people felt their feelings and faith to be insulted. I also believed it necessary to state that the views expressed by Magazinet were not the views of the Norwegian Government or the Norwegian people. The Danish Government made similar statements.

Formidable challenges

I have had various conversations with Mr Selbekk since February. Most of these have been constructive. We are in complete agreement on one point: today we face formidable challenges where religions and cultures meet. We may have different opinions on how to foster dialogue and coexistence, but I believe that we can agree on the necessity of safeguarding the basic principles on which our society is built, such as freedom of expression and human rights, including the right to practice one’s religion freely and the right for one’s faith not to be insulted.

[Translation from Norwegian].