Seeking respect: ‘Stop blasphemy now’

Several protest demonstrations were held to condemn Charlie Hebdo caricatures

BAHAWALPUR/ FAISALABAD/ LAHORE:

Several protest demonstrations condemning blasphemous caricatures published in Charlie Hebdo, a French satirical magazine, were held in the province after Friday prayers. Several religious organisations marked Friday as a Black Day.  

The main protests in Lahore were organised by Jamaat-i-Islami and Jamatud Dawa. World Pasban Khatam-i-Nabuwat, the Pakistan Awami Tehrik, the Sunni Ittehad Council, the Muttahida Tehreek Khatm-i-Nabuwat, the Pakistan Ulema Council, and the Jamat-i-Ahle Sunnat Pakistan also held demonstrations.

Jamaat-i-Islami chief Sirajul Haq announced million-man marches in Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi next Friday to protest against blasphemous caricatures. He was addressing a rally organised by the party on Multan Road.

Haq urged Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to call an emergency meeting of Muslim leaders around the world to register protest against the French government. The prime minister must ask the United Nations to frame laws to ensure respect for all prophets and Abrahamic faiths.

The JI leader appreciated statements by Pope Francis slating the blasphemous caricatures and German Chancellor Angela Merkel rebuking a growing anti-Islamic movement in Germany. Haq said he hoped that the pontiff would play a positive role in “saving Europe from destruction as a result of reaction from Muslims”.

He demanded that the French government apologise to the Muslim world and arrest the people responsible for the blasphemous caricatures and “make an example out of them”.  He said the publication had hurt the feelings of one-and-a-half billion Muslims in the world. “This, too, is terrorism,” he said.

Addressing a rally at Chauburji, Jamatud Dawa chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed said this was the greatest act of terrorism in the world. He announced a country-wide protest against the publication of blasphemous caricatures.

There will be no world peace if international bodies do not draft laws to prevent blasphemy, Saeed thundered.

He announced a Hurmat-i-Rasool March in Lahore on Sunday (tomorrow) and invited civil society and all religious and political parties to participate. He said the rally will be taken out from Nasser Bagh, The Mall.

Saeed said all Muslim countries must call a meeting and chalk out a strategy seeking legislation against blasphemy in other countries. He said safeguarding the sanctity of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) was of utmost importance and they were willing to sacrifice their lives for it. Hundreds of protesters in the rally shouted slogans against the publication. They demanded the cartoonists behind the caricatures be put to death.

“The West has triggered a clash of civilisations. Leaders from 40 countries have united to express solidarity with the blasphemers,” he said.

Saeed welcomed a resolution passed against the caricatures in the National Assembly and a demonstration by parliamentarians in front of the Assembly. “But this is not enough,” he said. Much more needs to be done to put an end to terrorism against Muslims, said Saeed.

Pakistan Awami Tehreek held a similar rally at Faisal Chowk.

In Bahawalpur

Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam’s Bahawalpur chapter organised a protest rally. The rally began at Jamia Al Sadiq and ended at Chowk Bazaar. Hundreds of protesters carried placards and shouted slogans against the cartoonists behind the caricatures.

JUI Punjab general secretary Mufti Mazhar Asadi, Jamaat Ahl-i-Hadith Bahawalpur chief Muzaffar Ali Zafar and several leaders of religious parties condemned the caricatures.

Maulana Ghulam Murtaza Usmani said the publication of disrespectful sketches had exposed Europe’s intentions towards Muslims.

“Army Chief Raheel Shareef should record his protest while he’s in Europe. Nawaz Sharif should take up the matter while he’s in Saudi Arabia,” Usmani said.

Jamaat-i-Islami also staged a protest and demanded strict action against blasphemous acts.

In Faisalabad

Several religious organisations took to the streets.

Jamia Rizvia Mahar-i-Islam Jhang, Bazaar, Al-Markaz Al-Islami Chiniot Bazaar and Jamia Masjid Samundri, among others, held demonstrations.

Qari Muhammad Ameen Rizvi said non-Muslims in western countries were testing the patience and faith of Muslims through the publication of blasphemous caricatures. “They do not know Muslims can stand every type of cruelty, brutality or tyranny but they could not bear blasphemous remarks against the Holy Prophet (pbuh).”

He warned Charlie Hebdo and its supporters to stop blaspheming or “face dire repercussions”.

Addressing a separate rally, Jamaat-i-Islami’s district general secretary Ghulam Abbas Khan said, “Freedom of speech is a universal right but such evil, as committed by Charlie Hebdo, will only lead to a world war.”

JI district president Sheikh Mushtaq said the Holy Prophet’s (pbuh) personality was a model for every Muslim. “We can bear seeing our children slaughtered before our eyes, but we cannot bear blasphemy.” 

Published in The Express Tribune, January 17^th, 2015.