The worldwide controversy over the cartoons depicting the Islamic religious figure of Mohammad pushes the bounds of press freedom, says the Organization of the Islamic Conference, a coalition of 57 Islamic countries to promote economic, social, political and scientific cooperation. The group recognises that while press freedom is necessary for democracy, respect for religious belief was also essential to international peace and security, and has taken to task the formulation of a collective policy on Islamic solidarity. These countries held a meeting on May 3, World Press Freedom Day, to ask for international legal instruments that would prevent hatred discourse, pre-meditated defamation, and incitement of denigration. Furthermore, they are insisting that freedom of expression as a principle should come with responsibility and discernment.

A few days before Press Freedom Day, they had already filed a motion with UNESCO to review all international instruments regarding press freedom and respect for cultural diversity, religious beliefs and symbols.

Sources:
Organization of the Islamic Conference. 2006. Press Release: In celebration of the world press freedom day the OIC stresses the centrality of press freedom with due regard to attendant responsibility. Retrieved on May 10, 2006 from <http://www.oic-oci.org/>

Goodenough, Patrick. 2006. Islamic Bloc: We Respect Press Freedom But . Retrieved on May 05, 2006 from <http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewForeignBureaus.asp?Page=/ForeignBureaus/archive/ 
200605/FOR20060503b.html>

Goodenough, Patrick. 2006. Islamic States Press for Limits on Free Expression. Retrieved on May 05, 2006 from <http://www.townhall.com/news/ext_wire.html?rowid=46963>