Hurt feelings: Jamaat, ASWJ protest against Charlie Hebdo

Demand UN ‘legislate’ to ban blasphemous content.

ISLAMABAD: Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) Ameer Sirajul Haq said on Friday that publication of sacrilegious caricatures by a French magazine and the western world’s “extremist stand” on it could lead to a world war. The JI chief demanded that the United Nations “make laws” to discourage blasphemy so that no one would “dare to defame religious personalities” in future.

The JI chief said that printing of sacrilegious caricatures by Charlie Hebdo was a bid to pave the way for World War III and would endanger billions of people. In a bid to challenge Muslims’ faith, Quranic verses have been “written on the bare backs of women” and a mosque was set on fire in Norway, the JI chief said in his address to a rally.

Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique, JI Naib Ameer Mian Muhammad Aslam, traders, members of Islami Jamiat Talba, and local JI representatives were joined by thousands of people to express their love for Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

Christians also participated in the rally and condemned the blasphemous content of the magazine.

The speakers alleged that the west was behind terrorism in Islamic countries, adding that France should apologies for hurting the feelings of Muslims world over.

“If we cannot protect the honour and dignity of our Holy Prophet, then our existence is useless,” said the railways minister. In his address, Rafique claimed the West “deliberately conspired against over 1.5 billion Muslims of the world”, adding that all the political parties should raise their voice on the issue in parliament.

Rafique added a draft dealing with such issues would be prepared with the help of international legal experts and presented before the nation soon. He added that sacrilegious caricatures were “journalistic terrorism” rather than “freedom of expression” which can never be allowed.

The speakers urged participants not to damage property as the fight was against “western extremistsThe march started from Faizabad Flyover and passed along Islamabad Highway before culminating at Blue Area.

Meanwhile, hundreds of Ahl-e-Sunat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) activists held a protest against the satirical magazine for publishing sacrilegious cartoons. Holding banners and placards inscribed with Francophobic slogans, the protesters assembled outside Red Mosque after Friday’s prayers and later marched towards Aabpara Chowk.

ASWJ chief Muhammad Ahmed Ludhianvi condemned the magazine, saying its actions hurt the feelings of Muslims across the world. Ludhianvi urged the Muslim world to play their role in making of laws at international level to discourage blasphemy.

He urged Saudi Arabia to call a conference of Muslim leaders in Makkah in order to devise laws for such activities at international level. He added that Muslims not only love and respect Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) but all prophets (PBUT) as it was a part of their beliefs. The ASWJ leaders also demanded the expulsion of the French ambassador.

All roads leading to Diplomatic Enclave, where the French Embassy is located, were closed and police were deployed in order to avoid any untoward incident.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 24^th, 2015.