Danish cartoonist Kurt Westergaard has declared that he was inspired by "terrorism - which gets its spiritual ammunition from Islam" to draw a cartoon depicting the prophet Mohammed wearing a turban shaped liked a bomb.

Westergaard further characterises his drawing as "a protest against the fact that we perhaps are going to have double standards (in Denmark and Western Europe) as for freedom of expression and freedom of the press."

Westergaard agreed to answer questions posed by Glasgow newspaper The Herald in writing, through an intermediary.

When asked whether he regretted drawing the cartoon, or the cartoon's widespread publication, he simply responded "No".

When asked what he has learned from this experience, he answered: "the world is always a dangerous place - but what alternatives do we have? But: 'Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.' John F. Kennedy."

Source: AFP (registration required), The Herald (pay-walled)