Pakistan

Charlie Hebdo caricatures an attempt to divide people and civilisations: FO

FO spokesperson says freedom of expression should not be misused as means to attack or hurt public sentiments

Web Desk January 20, 2015

Foreign office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam. PHOTO: PID

ISLAMABAD: Amid protests against Charlie Hebdo in major cities across the country, Pakistan condemned on Tuesday the publication of a sacrilegious cartoon on the French satirical magazine’s “survivor issue.”

“Echoing the sentiments of the people of Pakistan, the president and the prime minister have strongly condemned the publication, which has caused great offence to Muslims by hurting their sentiments and religious sensibilities all over the world,” Foreign Office spokesperson Tasneem Aslam said.

“We believe that freedom of expression should not be misused as means to attack or hurt public sentiments or religious beliefs,” the statement added.

Resolutions have been passed in the National Assembly and Senate condemning the publications.

“This is an attempt to divide peoples and civilisations. There is a need to promote harmony among people and communities instead of reinforcing stereotypes and making people alienated in their own countries,” it read.

Further, Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz has written a letter to the OIC secretary general recommending a legal action to seek an apology from the French magazine and joint action by the Ummah to get criminalisation of all acts of Islamophobia.

On Monday, the Saudi-based Organisation of Islamic Cooperation announced its plans to sue the controversial French magazine for publishing sacrilegious caricatures.

Secretary General of the organisation Iyad Madani while speaking to reporters in Riyadh said that freedom of speech has its limits and must not offend others.