World

British Muslims protest Charlie Hebdo Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) cartoons

Petition describes cartoons of Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) as "an affront to the norms of civilised society"

Afp February 09, 2015

Muslim demonstrators hold placards during a protest against the publication of cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammad in French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo, near Downing Street in central London February 8, 2015. At least 1,000 British Muslims protested in central London on Sunday against what they called "insulting depictions" of the Prophet Mohammad by French newspaper Charlie Hebdo. The event comes weeks after 17 people were killed in three days of violence last month in France that began when two Islamist gunmen burst into Charlie Hebdo's Paris offices, opening fire in revenge for its publication of satirical images of Mohammad. Sunday's protest organisers condemned the Paris attacks, but said the magazine should not publish cartoons of the prophet. PHOTO: REUTERS

LONDON: Thousands of British Muslims protested against cartoons of Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) in French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, in a demonstration near the office of Prime Minister David Cameron on Sunday.

The crowd marched to Downing Street holding signs reading "Charlie and the abuse factory", "We love Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) more than our lives", and "To insult is not freedom".

Speakers addressed the protest and held communal prayers, before representatives delivered a petition signed by over 100,000 British Muslims to Cameron's office.

The petition describes cartoons of Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) as "an affront to the norms of civilised society".

After a deadly militant attack on Charlie Hebdo's offices in Paris in January, Londoners had queued to buy the following memorial issue which featured a cartoon of the Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) on its front cover.

However most British media did not re-publish the cartoons, which are offensive to Muslims as depictions of the founder of Islam are forbidden.

"The peace-loving majority of people must become vociferous in promoting global civility and responsible debate," said Shaykh Tauqir Ishaq, a spokesperson for the Muslim Action Forum that organised the protest.

"At this time of heightened tension and emotion, it is crucial that both sides show restraint to prevent further incidents of this nature occurring."

A smaller rival demonstration of far-right protesters gathered on the opposite side of the street near the prime minister's office, waving Union Jack flags and holding a banner reading "Britain First: take our country back".

COMMENTS (10)

Gp65 | 9 years ago | Reply @sharabi: I usually agree with you but this time I disagree somewhat. People actually DO have a right to other people's feelings, though obviously it is not a nice thing to do. What people DO NOT have a right to do is to kill others when their feelings are hurt. This is not to say that I support the cartoons. I do not. However they were not illegal but the murders that happened were in factvillegal.

Sjoe | 9 years ago | Reply @sharabi -- Just don't look at it, don't see it and, first of all, don't buy it -- and your feelings will not be hurt. It's just like booze and pork: no one forces them down your throat, does one? @Muhammad -- if you don't like he way how the any of the media represent Pakistan and Islam, there it such option as "letter to the editor".

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Whiskey Khan | 9 years ago | Reply Muslims have become the Champions of Protesting only....If they could only channelize this energy for positive development , we would be at par with the rest of the world.

Muhammad Shahid Imran | 9 years ago | Reply First of all express tribune should replace the cartoon word with caricatures most suitable in this situation, i am reading its articles and observe that they are more careless in representing Pakistan and Islam than any of western journal. What are you doing is not journalism boy

Klowie | 9 years ago | Reply You've got to pay for that magazine in the first place, before you even would be able to get insulted. Muslims are able just not to buy that magazine. Muslims again don't protest against all the Islamic terror. We don't see any silent walks for more tolerance, like we've seen after the Breivik attack. Maybe Muslims should start paying for all the security measures.

Fox | 9 years ago | Reply If freedom of speech is not absolute as these people say nothing is. You can not say that my freedom of speech is not absolute because it migh offend you, yet say you have the freedom to practice relegion. A religion that may offend me. Whats hat saying again? You can't have your cake and eat it?

sharabi | 9 years ago | Reply No one have right to hurt anyone's feelings. I condemn those cartoons.

wb | 9 years ago | Reply The first condition of any cult is that it takes away a man's ability and rights to think. It conditions the man to submit completely without asking questions. If you ask tough questions, you're a blasphemer.

Paul Siraisi | 9 years ago | Reply A religion oversteps its bounds when it constrains the public space. This principle must be staked into the ground and held to from now on. Enough is enough. A religion oversteps its bounds when it constrains the public space, period.

John B | 9 years ago | Reply If I were a metropolitan police chief, I will be happy to have the petition with 100,000 signatures. It would save me a lot of trouble and time!

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