JI chief asks France, Charlie Hebdo to apologise

ISLAMABAD/LAHORE: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Ameer Sirajul Haq on Friday asked the French government and the magazine, Charlie Hebdo, to apologise to the Muslims all over the world for hurting their feelings.
The JI top leader was addressing the big ‘Shane-e-Risalat (SAW) Million March’ at the Zero Point, Islamabad.Thousands of faithful, including party’s activists, people from different walks of life and the representatives of minorities participated in the march from Faizabad to Zero Point.
Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique who earlier had moved the condemnation resolution in the National Assembly also registered his participation in the JI’s march.Like other parts of the country, the JI, Jamaat-ud-Daawa (JuD), and other religious parties took out rallies and protest demonstrations in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
Sirajul Haq said that peace and security of the world was not facing any threat from Muslims rather they were extremist elements of the western world who were a danger to the world peace.
“By indulging in such blasphemous acts, the extremists of the western world, some of them enjoying support of their rulers, are taking the world to the Third World War,” the JI leader observed.
The participants of the rally were carrying party flags, placards and banners and were raising slogans to show respect to the Holy Prophet (SAW).JI’s Central Naib Ameer Mian Aslam, Islamabad Ameer Zubair Farooq Khan and Rawalpindi Ameer Shams-ur-Rehman Swati also addressed the participants of the rally.
The JI leader said, “The reaction shown by the Muslims reflects that they are ready to sacrifice everything to uphold dignity and respect of the Holy Prophet (SAW).”He observed that by participating in the march in a large number, the Muslims had given a message to France and rest of the western world that they would continue to follow those who would commit such acts. “We should also boycott products of countries where incidents of blasphemous acts are committed,” he said.
He regretted that leaders of 40 countries gathered in Paris to protest killing of 17 people in reaction to printing of blasphemous caricatures.He said that he had also invited the prime minister and other political leaders to participate in the ‘Shan-e-Risalat (SAW) Million March.’“I again invite them to participate in the million marches to be organised in Karachi and Lahore so that we take a unanimous and joint stand on this vital issue,” Sirajul Haq said.
Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique said that all the political and religious parties should unite on this important issue.He congratulated the JI leadership for organising the mega event to register their protest.
Meanwhile, thousands of people took to streets in the provincial metropolis, Lahore, demanding the government to sever diplomatic ties with Paris and boycott French products, besides setting ablaze French flag and effigies of French president.
The protesters, including both religious workers and common people, who had voiced the protests on the appeal of top religious leaders, were raising slogans warning that secular Europe was fanning war of civilisations on the pretext of freedom of speech.
Soon after Friday congregations, the protesters gathered and raised slogans against France, western leaders and anti-Muslim forces.The prayer-leaders in their Friday sermons demanded that Paris must tender an apology to Muslims.
Addressing the protesters, the leaders warned the West that their blasphemies would not hamper the love for the Prophet (SAW) from the hearts of the Muslims.They said such mindless insistence on limitless freedom of expression was actually a western conspiracy to push the world into war of civilisations.
The biggest protests in Lahore were held at the Press Club by Almi Majlis Khatam-e-Nabuwwat (AMKN) and JUI-F and at Chauburji Chowk by Tehrik Hurmat-e-Rasool (THR), while numerous demonstrations were held all over the city including those by Jamaat-e-Islami at Mansoora, JUP at Gulberg, Tanzeem Islami (TI) at Bagh-e-Jinnah and Jamiat Ahle Hadith (JAH) at Ravi Road.
Addressing a large demonstration outside the Lahore Press Club, JUI-F Secretary General Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, Maulana Allah Wasaya, Liaquat Baloch and others demanded of the government to lead the anti-blasphemy protests.
They said that Islamabad had been displaying criminal silence on the issue. They demanded that the French ambassador should be expelled.
JuD Ameer Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, Abdul Rehman Makki, Maulana Ameer Hamza and others warned that announcements of banning JuD were being made to silence the effective voice against blasphemy, Indian occupation of Kashmir and Delhi’s water terrorism against Pakistan.
They said freezing the JuD accounts was an attempt by Islamabad to please the western masters and their Asian policeman, Delhi.Hafiz Saeed said he was writing letters to Muslim leaders against the enemy conspiracies.
He said the JuD would continue supporting the cause of Islam and relief activities because no proof was ever produced against him and the party.Other leaders said JuD had never indulged in anti-social activities, except for raising voice against global injustices against Islam and the Muslims. They demanded of Islamabad to push for a global legislation for punishing blasphemy of every sacred religious figure.
Delivering Friday sermon at Mansoora Masjid, JI Naib Ameer Hafiz Muhammad Idrees said those publishing the blasphemous sketches had the backing of Zionist lobby.He said Pope Francis had fully represented the Christian world by decrying blasphemy. He urged the Christian community in the country to join the countrywide protest to express their solidarity with the Muslims.
He said US wanted India’s supremacy in the region in order to contain China and US President Obama’s visit to India was aimed at giving a pat to Indian Prime Minister Modi.The government, he said, was working on the US plan to impose ban on religious parties and to promote secular agenda.
He said one would pity the wisdom of the rulers who thought the seminary students were terrorists but believed the target killers, extortionists and the criminals involved in the bodies stuffed in bags were innocents.
Delivering Friday sermon at Bagh-e-Jinnah, Tanzim-e-Islami Ameer Hafiz Akif Saeed said that the government’s actions in the wake of fresh attempts of blasphemy were compounding the problems and conspiracies faced by the Muslims, especially the Pakistanis.