Hundreds of protesters have poured into the streets in the Central Asian country of Kyrgyzstan to denounce French satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo, for the publication of a blasphemous cartoon of Prophet Mohammad.
Large crowds of demonstrators, including peace activists and lawmakers rallied in the capital city of Bishkek on Tuesday to condemn the publication of sacrilegious cartoons of the Prophet by the French magazine.
The participants denounced Western media for spreading Islamophobia and hostility against Muslims.
"Why do Western countries allow freedom of speech to become freedom to offend?" Kyrgyz lawmaker, Tursunbai Bakir Uulu, who was participating in the rally, asked.
Several demonstrators also carried banners and placards reading, "I love the Prophet."
Angry protesters in Niger, Yemen, Pakistan and several other countries have recently staged massive rallies to condemn Charlie Hebdo’s most recent publication of a blasphemous cartoon of the Prophet of Islam.
On January 14, the French satirical magazine, whose Paris office was attacked by two gunmen on January 7, once again published a cartoon of the Prophet on the cover of its new edition despite warnings that the move is provocative.
The January 7 attack is largely believed to have been launched over Charlie Hebdo’s previous cartoons of the Prophet.
The French magazine has repeatedly provoked Muslim anger by publishing cartoons of Prophet Mohammad.
The al-Qaeda branch in Yemen claimed responsibility for the attack on Charlie Hebdo. The group said it chose and supported Said and Cherif Kouachi, the two brothers who allegedly carried out the deadly assault.
LINK: https://www.ansarpress.com/english/3249