Key Islamic leader urges forgiveness

       A key Islamic leader is urging angry Muslims to forgive students who published images of the Prophet Mohammed in a sexual situation.
       Leaders of 22 southern Islamic organisations had accepted a public apology from the college students when they were found to be "unaware of the sensitivity around the issue and had no ill intention behind their action", said Imron Maluleem, vice chairman of the Central Islamic Committee of Thailand.
       The computer-manipulated image of fake LEGO toy packaging shown in a magazine produced by a group of Kasetsart University students has been circulated over the internet since 2006.
       Danish toymaker LEGO said it had no involvement in the image.
       The image depicts the Prophet Mohammed in a sexual situation and features English text.
       The Sex No Go magazine - 1,500 copies of which were printed with financial help from the Thai Health Promotion Foundation - is intended to create sexual awareness among youths.
       "There shouldn't be a further row about the issue because we have sought an explanation from the publishers,"Mr Imron said.
       The Foreign Ministry had expressed concerns the matter might be inflamed overseas, he said.
       "I urge all discontented Muslims to forgive them [the students] because they have already apologised in accordance with the right principles," he said."We shouldn't use our emotion to further justify our actions."
       The students published the image because they were not aware of the sensitivities of Islam, especially about the Prophet Mohammed, he said.
       The situation also reflects a lack of public understanding about Islam and Muslims, which is part of the cause of the violence in the South, he said.
       Islamic organisations became aware of the publication last week through a copy obtained in Yala, even though the magazine had been available since January. They went to meet the foundation's officers in Bangkok and demanded an investigation and corrective measures.
       They said they feared the publication could stir chaos, similar to 2006 when there were worldwide protests against a Danish newspaper which printed cartoons satirising the Prophet Mohammed.
       The concern prompted the foundation to put a five-day public apology advertisement in seven Thai-language dailies.
       It will also publish 50,000 copies of a book about the Prophet Mohammed to educate the public.
       Last Friday, the foundation burnt 400 recalled copies of the magazine and an original CD.
       It also decided to end project funding for the students as punishment for their failure to follow editorial procedures.