AP: "Danish Muslims see silver lining to cartoon crisis"

Interesting disconnect between headline and story:

Fury among Muslims worldwide over Danish cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad has led to deadly violence and bitter accusations between the West and the Islamic world. But Niamatullah Basharat sees a silver lining.

"Every Muslim feels hurt by these drawings," the Danish imam said at the small Nusrat Djahan mosque on the outskirts of Copenhagen.

"But Denmark has talked more about Islam in the last few weeks than it has in the last 10 years, so I hope it will do some good."

Many Muslims hope that despite the short-term damage to community relations, the spotlight on religious and ethnic minorities will give them a greater voice in Danish politics.

But so far images of angry Muslim crowds burning the Danish flag and stoning Danish embassies, and a boycott of Danish products in the Middle East, have polarized opinion instead.

The cartoonists who produced the images of the Prophet for the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten are in hiding and under police protection.

A new poll by A&B Analyze for Web-based newspaper Altinget showed 45 percent of Danes have less sympathy now for Muslims than before the cartoon backlash. Another recent poll showed support for the anti-immigrant Danish People's Party rising.

But Muslims say now could be the time to build bridges.

Don't they realize they have made Ronald McDonald into a martyr? Ronald, we will redeem you with our blood!!!

Tags: cartoons, Prophet-cartoons, wishful-thinking, Denmark, Islam, Ronald