At least two churches have been set on fire in the capital
of Niger amid fresh protests against French magazine Charlie Hebdo’s cartoon
depicting Prophet Muhammad, BBC reports.
of Niger amid fresh protests against French magazine Charlie Hebdo’s cartoon
depicting Prophet Muhammad, BBC reports.
Saturday’s protests began outside Niamey’s grand mosque with
police using tear gas a day after at least four were killed in the second city
of Zinder.
police using tear gas a day after at least four were killed in the second city
of Zinder.
The French embassy had warned its citizens to stay indoors
before now.
before now.
Last week, Islamist gunmen killed 12 people at the
magazine’s Paris office. Eight of them were journalists, with subsequent
attacks in Paris, which killed another five people, four at a Jewish
supermarket.
The cover of the magazine’s latest edition, published after
the attack, featured a cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad weeping while holding a
sign saying “I am Charlie”.
the attack, featured a cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad weeping while holding a
sign saying “I am Charlie”.
Seven million copies of the edition are being printed in
view of extraordinary demand, distributors announced on Saturday. The
magazine’s print run before the attack was 60,000.
view of extraordinary demand, distributors announced on Saturday. The
magazine’s print run before the attack was 60,000.
Many Muslims see any depiction of Islam’s prophet as
offensive.
offensive.
Protests against the magazine were also seen on Friday in
Pakistan, where protests turned violent in Karachi, the Sudanese capital of
Khartoum and the Algerian capital, Algiers.
Pakistan, where protests turned violent in Karachi, the Sudanese capital of
Khartoum and the Algerian capital, Algiers.
People in Somalia took to the streets today as well.
In Niger, a former French colony, hundreds of demonstrators
gathered at Niamey’s grand mosque, shouting “God is Great” in Arabic.
gathered at Niamey’s grand mosque, shouting “God is Great” in Arabic.
At least two churches were set on fire – similar to Friday’s
demonstration in Zinder where protesters also raided shops that were run by
Christians.
demonstration in Zinder where protesters also raided shops that were run by
Christians.
The French cultural centre in Zinder also came under attack.
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