British Muslims protest Charlie Hebdo Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) cartoons
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
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".