COPENHAGEN, Denmark - An editor of a Danish newspaper that published the controversial prophet Muhammad cartoons said Wednesday he expects the debate about self-censorship in the media and artists' fear of offending Islam to continue for years.

Flemming Rose, the culture editor of a Danish newspaper that printed controversial cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad and sparked worldwide protest nearly a year ago, speaks to the media in Copenhagen, Denmark, Wednesday Jan. 17, 2007. [AP]

The Jyllands-Posten daily in 2005 published 12 drawings - one of them showing Muhammad wearing a turban shaped as a bomb with a burning fuse. Another portrayed him with a bushy gray beard and holding a sword.

The cartoons, which were reprinted in a range of Western media, triggered international protests across the Muslim world and attacks on Danish embassies in January 2006.

Flemming Rose, the culture editor of the newspaper - one of Denmark's biggest - had asked Danish cartoonists to draw Muhammad. He reiterated that the decision to print the drawings was meant as a challenge to a perceived self-censorship, not to insult Muslims.

"The drawings have started a very important debate that will last for many, many years," Rose told a news conference, ahead of the one-year anniversary of the cartoon crisis. "In the coming years, this will become a bigger discussion."

Rose said he "felt provoked when I heard institutions, media and people in Western Europe were putting reins on themselves because they were afraid of offending Islam."

He gave several examples, from art removed from exhibitions to standup comedians saying they didn't want to poke fun at Islam. In 2004, Danish writer Kaare Bluitgen complained he could not find an illustrator for his children's book about Muhammad, for fear of retaliation for depicting the prophet.

He reiterated that he regretted if the cartoons had offended Muslims and apologized to them but stood by the decision to print them, saying it was within Danish law.

Muslims around the world were offended because Islam forbids the depiction of any prophet from the Quran.