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Photo: EPA
Anti-French protest in Algeria
Photo: EPA

Post-attack Charlie Hebdo cover causes unrest in Muslim world

Riots erupt from West Africa to East Asia in protest of latest issue of French magazine, which featured Mohammed on cover after its offices were attacked.

Parts of the Muslim world erupted in anger after Friday prayers, with protests against the latest Charlie Hebdo cover – featuring Mohammed on the cover – devolving into riots in several key cities from Senegal to Pakistan.

 

 

In Jerusalem's flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque compound, hundreds of Palestinians demonstrated against the French satirical magazine, whose 12 staff members were killed by radical Islamists last week, some with banners reading "Islam is a religion of peace!"

 

Algerians protest against French (Photo: EPA)
Algerians protest against French (Photo: EPA)

 

In Lebanon's flashpoint city of Tripoli, 70 people marched with banners bearing the name of the prophet and chanting "Allahu Akbar" (God is greatest). In Baddawi, on the outskirts of the city, prayer leader Sheikh Mohammed Ibrahimi addressed hundreds of worshippers saying: "May God punish this newspaper and those who back it".

 

The largest protests took place in the capitals of Algeria and Jordan. In Amman, around 2,500 protesters set off from Al-Husseini mosque under tight security, holding banners that read "insulting the prophet is global terrorism."

 

Jordanians protest latest Charlie Hebdo cover (Photo: AFP)
Jordanians protest latest Charlie Hebdo cover (Photo: AFP)

 

In Algiers, 2,000 to 3,000 marchers chanted "We are all Mohammed," though some shouted their support for the Islamist Kouachi brothers who carried out the Charlie Hebdo massacre; the march ended when demonstrators began rioting.

 

Several officers were injured during the clashes, with police firing riot pellets and small groups of protesters responding with rocks, fireworks and bottles in the streets around the waterfront area of the Algerian capital.

 

Anti-French protest in Pakistan (Photo: AP)
Anti-French protest in Pakistan (Photo: AP)

 

Around 100 protesters rallied in Istanbul in response to a call by a group calling itself the Fraternal Platform of the Prophet's Companions, with some holding pictures of the Kouachis.

 

Lebanese child holds up protest sign (Photo: AP)
Lebanese child holds up protest sign (Photo: AP)

 

In the Sudanese capital of Khartoum, hundreds poured out of the Grand Mosque and marched across the adjacent square, chanting "Expel the French ambassador. Victory to the Prophet of God!"

 

In Tunis, worshippers at El-Fath mosque walked out as prayer leader Noureddine Khadmi said "we are all against insults made against our prophet but it is not a reason to kill."

 

Algerian police face off with rioters (Photo: Reuters)
Algerian police face off with rioters (Photo: Reuters)

 

A French flag was also set on fire outside the embassy in the Senegalese capital, Dakar, where 1,000 protesters rallied, denouncing Charlie Hebdo and chanting slogans of praise to the prophet.

 

Muslim governments also joined the chorus of condemnation of the cartoon.

 

Algerians rally against Charlie Hebdo (Photo: EPA)
Algerians rally against Charlie Hebdo (Photo: EPA)

 

Qatar branded as "offensive" the drawing, which was reprinted by several European papers in a show of solidarity with the victims of last week's attack. "These disgraceful actions are in the interest of nobody and will only fuel hatred and anger," the foreign ministry warned.

 

Bahrain's foreign ministry echoed that, saying publication of such cartoons "will create fertile ground for the spread of hatred and terrorism."

 

Anti-French protest in Senegal (Photo: AFP)
Anti-French protest in Senegal (Photo: AFP)

 

Jordan's King Abdullah II, who also attended march, said Thursday that the latest issue of Charlie Hebdo was "irresponsible and reckless."

 

Saudi Arabia's top religious body, the Council of Senior Ulema, also criticized the new cartoons that it said "have nothing to do with the freedom of creativity or thought."

 


פרסום ראשון: 01.16.15, 23:28
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