‘Muslim world should isolate France’

Protest rally over sacrilegious cartoons causes massive traffic jam in Rawalpindi

RAWALPINDI:

Traffic on the main thoroughfares of the city was completely jammed on Wednesday afternoon as traders and residents from all the major markets of the city shut up shop and took to the streets to protest against the sacrilegious cartoons published in France and the subsequent statements of President Emmanuel Macron.

Traders and shopkeepers from the major markets of the city, including Raja Bazaar, Moti Bazaar, Bohar Bazaar, Kallan Bazaar, Iqbal Road, Dalda Sarai, Trunk Bazaar, and Liaquat Road shot down their stores and plazas and marched along with residents of the city.

Led by all the major trader associations of the city, the rally began at Fawara Chowk and marched to Committee Chowk and then to Teeli Mohalla. Participants of the rally carried banners and placards inscribed with condemnation for the sacrilegious cartoons published in France, the French president and called for a boycott of all French goods.

Anjuman Tajiran Raza Bazaar, Anjuman Tajiran Commercial Market, Pharmaceutical Trade Association, Anjuman Tajiran Moti Bazaar, and Sarafa and Jewellers Association had organised the rally.

They maintained that it was unethical to continue targeting a particular religious group and using hate speech against them under the garb of freedom of expression.

The protesters said that they will not tolerate any hate or insult aimed at the Holy Prophet (PBUH), demanding leaders of Muslim countries around the world to unite on this point. They further demanded a meeting of all Islamic states should be summoned under the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) along with an emergency session of the United Nations to discuss the matter and adopt a line of action against France.

They further demanded that all Muslim-majority countries in the world to unanimously sever diplomatic relations with France and completely boycott all French products while introducing legislation against sacrilegious cartoons and hate speech at the international level.

The traders also warned of a country-wide strike. As a result of the rally, traffic on the Murree Road, Rawal Road, Saddar Bazaar, Saidpur Road was completely jammed for hours. While a heavy contingent of police had been deployed, they mostly stood by as spectators instead of redirecting traffic.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 5^th, 2020.