Najeeb al-Bader, first secretary at Kuwait's UN mission, urged for tolerance and understanding between religions, cultures and civilizations during a meeting of the Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday, the official Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) reported.

Al-Bader also rejected any infringement or defamation of religious beliefs, condemning cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammad which were first published by a Danish newspaper last September and then appeared in some other Western publications.

Addressing the Human Rights Council, al-Bader said that the Danish cartoons humiliated the symbol of Islam and should be condemned.

"It (Cartoons) not only hurt 1.3 billion Muslims around the world, but also infringed on the principles of tolerance, understanding, cultural freedom and freedom of belief," al-Bader was quoted said.

He also noted that efforts should be made to avoid such encroachments on culture, respect and tolerance.

The senior Kuwaiti official also stressed that freedom of expression did not mean encroachments on other peoples' beliefs.

"The religion of Islam has an important recognized role in human civilization, which is based on justice, tolerance and coexistence with others," he added.

The publication of the cartoons including one that showed the Prophet Mohammad wearing a bomb-shaped turban has led to widespread protests in Muslim countries.

Many Muslims deem the depiction of the Prophet Mohammad as blasphemous.

Source: Xinhua