ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has strongly denounced the publication of blasphemous caricatures by French Magazine Charlie Hebdo.
In a statement, the foreign minister said these caricatures have hurt the sentiments of millions of Muslims across the world. He said such profane acts should not be repeated rather those behind it must be taken to task.
He said Pakistan has conveyed its concerns to the French government on the despicable act. He said freedom of expression does not give anyone the licence to hurt the religious sentiments.
The foreign minister noted there has been an increase in Islamophobia and xenophobia across the world. He expressed confidence that the global community will take immediate steps to put a stop to such acts and tendencies.
Pakistan has strongly condemned the decision by French magazine, Charlie Hebdo, to republish deeply offensive caricatures of Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him).
READ MORE: Pakistan condemns French magazine reprinting offensive caricatures
In a tweet, Foreign Office Spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said that such a deliberate act to offend the sentiments of Muslims cannot be justified as an exercise in press freedom or freedom of expression. He said such actions undermine the global aspirations for peaceful coexistence as well as social and interfaith harmony.
“Such a deliberate act to offend the sentiments of billions of Muslims cannot be justified as an exercise in press freedom or freedom of expression. Such actions undermine the global aspirations for peaceful co-existence as well as social and inter-faith harmony,” said the spokesman.
The French newspaper whose Paris offices were attacked in 2015 has reprinted the blasphemous caricatures, a day before thirteen men and a woman accused of providing the attackers with weapons and logistics wernt on trial on terrorism charges.
The attacks against Charlie Hebdo and two days later at a supermarket sparked a wave of killings claimed by ISIS across Europe. Seventeen people died in the attacks – 12 of them at the offices – along with all three attackers.
