ISLAMABAD, Feb 16: Norway’s Muslim leaders have accepted the apology of the editor of a magazine which had reprinted the blasphemous cartoon in January.

“The editor of Magazinet, Vebjorn Selbekk, has apologized at a live press conference and the Muslim community in Norway has accepted the apology,” the visiting member of the Norwegian parliament Khalid Mahmood Chaudhry told a press conference here on Thursday.

He said there existed a blasphemy law in Norway and a Muslim organization had filed a case with a court under the law. He however said the court may dispose of the case in view of the acceptance of the apology.

He said Islamic Council of Norway, Ulema Council, Muslim leaders, major Islamic organizations and prominent mosque Imams have declared the matter as closed, saying that “Our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) has said everyone can make mistakes but the best is the one who expresses regret and asks for forgiveness.”

Mr Chaudhry said some quarters were exploiting the issue for their own interests. “It is not a political or business issue rather a religious one. People need to be very careful while discussing it. Norwegian Muslims are a part of the Ummah. If they have pardoned the Norwegian editor, their Muslim brothers can surely do the same,” he remarked.

He said he was trying to engage the media and politicians to convey the feelings of Pakistani Norwegians.

He said Norway’s response to the controversy has been quick from the start and the Norwegian Muslims have handled the issue very well. “Now through dialogue we have reached a solution and we must appreciate its significance,” he stressed. He said the Muslims in Norway had forcefully protested over the publication of the blasphemous cartoon, while remaining within the limits of the democratic traditions.

He said Norwegian prime minister and foreign minister were the first in Europe to condemn the publication of the blasphemous sketches and had termed it a wrong use of freedom of press.

He said Pakistan-Norway relations got a boost after the visit of President General Pervez Musharraf to Norway.

He said a well-known cellphone company of Norway has made huge investment in Pakistan and made the largest contribution for the relief activities in quake-hit areas.

Answering a question, he said Magazinet is a small periodical with a circulation of few thousands and he had never heard its name before the incident. He said the editor of the magazine had written an article in favour of the blasphemy law a few years ago when the proposal to omit it from the constitution was being discussed as it had never been invoked in about five decades.