French Muslims condemn publication of anti-Islam cartoons

The French Muslim Council (CFCM), the main Islamic body in France, on Wednesday accused satirical Parisian weekly Charlie Hebdo of firing up anti-Muslim sentiment at a sensitive time, The Associated Press reported.

“There is profound indignation at the publicati on of these cartoons,” the body’s leader Mohammed Moussaoui said.

He also described the cartoons as “unjust” and “Islamophobic”.

Mouassoui also called on the French Muslim community to “rise above their anger and not give in to the provocation”.

"This is a disgraceful and hateful, useless and stupid provocation," Dalil Boubakeur, rector of the Grand Paris Mosque, said.

He added, "We are not like animals of Pavlov to react at each insult."

Abdallah Zekri, President of the Paris-Based Anti-Islamophobia Observatory, also said his group is considering filing a lawsuit against Parisian weeklyCharlie Hebdo.

"People want to create trouble in France. Charlie Hebdo wants to make money on the backs of Muslims," he said.

Meanwhile, France has increased security around its embassies after the publication of recent anti-Islam cartoons, and announced it will close 20 of its embassies in Muslim countries this Friday.

The publication of crude caricatures of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) comes amid widespread outrage over a US-made film that insults Islam’s holiest figure, and has sparked days of protests in the Arab world, Africa, Asia and some Western countries.

    Muslims in Iran, Turkey, Sudan, Egypt, Yemen, Tunisia, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Kashmir, Pakistan, India, Iraq, Gaza, Morocco, Syria, Kuwait, Nigeria, Kenya, Australia, Britain, the United States, France, Belgium, and some other countries have held many demonstrations to condemn the blasphemous film.


Angry protesters across demand the US government apologize to the Muslim world over the anti-Islam movie.

The American-made anti-Islam movie is said to have been made with the help of Jewish donations totaling USD 5 million.