COPENHAGEN, February 9, 2006 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – Three years ago cartoons of Jesus Christ were rejected by Denmark's mass-circulation daily Jyllands-Posten, which recently commissioned and published insulting drawings of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).

"My cartoon, which certainly did not offend any Christians I showed it to, was rejected because the editor felt it would be considered offensive to readers -- readers in general, not necessarily Christians," cartoonist Christoffer Zieler said in an e-mail to Reuters on Wednesday, February 9.

In April 2003, Zieler submitted five unsolicited cartoons portraying Jesus jumping out of holes in floors and walls during his resurrection.

In one of the drawings, gnomes rated Jesus for style, another entitled "Saviour-cam" showed Jesus with a camera on his head staring at his feet.

Muslims believe that Jesus, known the Noble Qur'an as 'Isa, was a prophet who received revelation from God and preached monotheism, and they afford him great respect.

Last September, Jyllands-Posten ran 12 cartoons of Prophet Muhammad including one wearing a bomb-shaped turban and another showing him as a knife-wielding nomad flanked by shrouded women.

The drawing, considered blasphemous under Islam, triggered an outcry across the Muslim world and calls to boycott Danish products.

Muslims believe that Jesus, known in the Noble Qur'an as 'Isa, was a prophet who received revelation from God and preached monotheism.

Jens Kaiser, the former editor of Jyllands-Posten's Sunday edition who turned down the Jesus cartoons, said the drawings were offensive, Britain's the Guardian reported on Monday.

"I don't think Jyllands-Posten's readers will enjoy the drawings. As a matter of fact, I think that they will provoke an outcry. Therefore, I will not use them," he said in an e-mail sent back to Zieler.

Kraiser said that it was ridiculous to bring forward the case now.

"It has nothing to do with the Muhammad cartoons.

"In the Muhammad drawings case, we asked the illustrators to do it. I did not ask for these cartoons. That's the difference."

IslamOnline.net tried to reach Kraiser for an elaborated comment but he was not available.

Danish Muslims blasted the daily's double-standards in dealings with the cartoons.

"The decision smacks of double-standards," said Ahmed Akkari, spokesman for the Danish-based European Committee for Prophet Honoring.

"How can Jyllands-Posten distinguish the two cases? Surely they must understand."

A cohort of Muslim dignitaries and organizations are calling for the enactment of an international law banning the publication of any insults to religious symbols and values.

The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and the Arab League, the Muslim world's two main political bodies, are seeking a UN resolution, backed by possible sanctions, to protect religions following the publication of provocative cartoons.

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