Out on streets: Teachers protest against caricatures

Demand that publication of blasphemous content be stopped

LAHORE:

The Punjab Teachers’ Union (PTU) staged a protest demonstration in front of the Lahore Press Club on Wednesday against blasphemous caricatures.

Carrying placards, the teachers chanted slogans. The protest was led by PTU central president Syed Sajjad Kazmi.

Kazmi said that Islam was a religion of peace. “The blasphemous caricatures are an attempt at instigating violence across the globe. This is a conspiracy to hurt the sentiments of Muslims,” he said. Kazmi demanded that the French government ban the magazine. “The French magazine is widening the divide among followers of various religions. Legislation should be done at global level to ensure respect for all faiths and religions,” Kazmi said.

The protesters demanded that repeated publication of blasphemous content be stopped. They demanded that a protest be lodged by government of Pakistan with the French government. They said diplomatic and economic ties with France be suspended until an official apology was received.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 29^th, 2015.