ISLAMABAD: Pakistani lawmakers passed a resolution and marched outside parliament today to protest the publication of images of Prophet Muhammad in the satirical French magazine attacked by extremists last week.
Like many other Muslim nations, Pakistan condemned the deadly rampage at the Paris office of the Charlie Hebdo weekly, which killed 12 people, including editors, cartoonists and two police. But it has also condemned the publication of cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad, which many Muslims consider sacrilege.
Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Mohammad Yousuf said the lawmakers unanimously approved the resolution condemning the publication of the images. He did not say how many legislators were present, but said lawmakers from all political parties backed the measure. The resolution also condemned violence under any pretext.
After the vote a group of lawmakers marched outside parliament, chanting: “In the name of the Prophet, we’re ready to die.”
The minister said the resolution would be sent to all foreign missions in the country and to the UN to register the protest against the cartoons, which “hurt our religious sentiments deeply.”
Islam forbids depictions of the Prophet Muhammad, and many in Muslim-majority Pakistan view the cartoons as blasphemous.
The magazine has invoked freedom of speech to defend its publications of cartoons that many Muslims and non-Muslims alike consider offensive.--AFP