Demonstrations continue: Christians protest against Charlie Hebdo

Bishop of Peshawar says the caricatures misrepresent Islam.

PESHAWAR: The city’s Christians protested against blasphemous caricatures published in French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in the provincial capital on Sunday.

Activists from Diocese of Peshawar, United Christian Movement (UCM), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) minority wing and Saint John Vianney Catholic Church participated in the demonstration following Sunday service. PTI minority wing provincial president Ernest Nehal, Bishop of Peshawar Humphrey Sarfaraz Peters, UCM Chairman Sajid Yaqub Sahotara and the pastor of Saint John Vianney Catholic Church led protest rallies from their churches to the Peshawar Press Club.



Ernest Nehal demanded the French government to ban the magazine and said no religion allows hurting sentiments of other religious groups.

Bishop Humphrey Sarfaraz Peters condemned the publication and said freedom of expression does not translate into violating the freedom of others. He said the kind of satire used in the medium is a new tactic for the misrepresentation of Islam.

In his address, Sajid Yaqub Sahotara said the caricatures have humiliated all peaceful religions. He said the international community should take concrete steps in order to suppress elements that indirectly harm world peace.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 19^th, 2015.