E/CN.4/2002/24 page 13 24. A pamphlet, written in French, was distributed in the centre of Brussels; it appears at first sight to be the work of Islamic extremists, picturing Saint Mary’s Church in Schaerbeek, a large Brussels district, as a mosque. There are firm grounds to believe that this pamphlet is false, fabricated with the purpose of discrediting the Muslim community and to manipulate and “poison” public opinion. (c) Denmark 25. The terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C. on 11 September 2001 were followed by an upsurge of verbal and physical attacks on ethnic minorities associated with Islam. At first the media focused on a small number of Palestinian youngsters in Denmark who celebrated the attacks and consequently aroused massive and strong emotional reactions. Danish politicians, the mass media and public discourse gave a broadly negative representation of Muslims, which was considered by several observers to express some of the toughest anti-migrant sentiment in Europe. In May 2001 supporters of a political party, Det Radikale Venstre, were fiercely and repeatedly accused of being Muslim fundamentalists, affiliated with a Pakistan-based movement, supposedly supporting the Taliban. This horrifying turn of events has further strengthened already antagonistic relations between Muslims and the rest of the Danish population. However, physical attacks have not resulted in life-threatening injuries. The media coverage reflected various phases following the initial shock and the manifestations of solidarity. First, there was a focus on civil and military preparedness; secondly, indignation at media images of young Palestinians celebrating the terrorist attack on the United States of America; thirdly, there were warnings by the Government and leading Muslims against increased verbal attacks and violence on Muslims in general; and fourthly, there was local appropriations of the attack for political and nationalistic purposes. Verbal and physical attacks 26. Ethnic minority representatives report unanimously that verbal attacks and harassment increased rapidly after 11 September 2001. Islamic web sites received much hate mail. The following is a list of media reports of physical and verbal attacks. 13 September. Death threats are made to a local television station in Copenhagen during a programme in which the attacks on the United States are debated (Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten 20/9, 22/9); 13-14 September. Posters with the text “Holy war against Islam” is found at a Red Cross Centre (Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten 22/9); 14 September. A Danish woman tries to set her Turkish neighbour’s apartment on fire. (Politiken 20/9, Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten 22/9); 14 September. A Danish imam, Abdul Wahid Pedersen, receives a death threat (most newspapers); A drunken young man is caught outside a mosque ready to throw his homemade Molotov cocktails (mostly newspapers);