Pakistanis burn French flag in Charlie Hebdo row

From the French edition of The Local

Pakistan’s parliament on Thursday condemned satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo for printing a “blasphemous” cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad as religious groups held rallies throughout the country, including one at which the French flag was burnt.

“This house strongly condemns (the) printing and reprinting of the blasphemous caricatures… and also takes serious note of the continued trend of their reproduction in numerous other newspapers and magazines of other Western capitals,” the resolution said. “This house genuinely believes that freedom of expression should not be misused as a means to attack or hurt public sentiments and religious beliefs,” 

Hundreds of protesters held rallies in the eastern city of Lahore and Quetta in southwestern Pakistan, while dozens of activists in central Multan burnt the French flag.

After passing the resolution lawmakers and parliament employees marched on Constitution Avenue raising placards bearing slogans including “Allahu Akbar” and “We are ready to serve of Prophet Muhammad”.

Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Yousuf of the ruling PML-N party told reporters outside parliament that all Pakistanis condemned the cartoon and saw it as “a conspiracy against Islam hatched through Western media”.