 One controversy that arose around the cartoons was the question of whether they were racist . The United Nations Commission on Human Rights ( UNCHR ) Special Rapporteur " on contemporary forms of racism , racial discrimination , xenophobia and related intolerance " , Doudou Diène , saw xenophobia and racism in Europe as the root of the controversy , and partly criticised the government of Denmark for inaction after the publication of the cartoons . 
