Afghans Stage Fresh Protests against Anti-Islam Film, Cartoons
Thousands of protesters have staged a demonstration in the Afghan capital to condemn the United States and France over recent anti-Islam moves that disrespect Prophet Muhammad.
The protesters took to streets in western Kabul on Friday to express their outrage against the production of a blasphemous film in the United States and a French magazine’s recent publication of cartoons
insulting the Prophet of Islam.
On Thursday, hundreds of Afghans protested for the first time against cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad published in France and staged fresh rallies against a US-made anti-Islam film.
About 300 students chanted "Death to France, Death to America" in a western neighborhood of the capital Kabul.
Nearby, hundreds more gathered on a flyover and chanted "Death to America" and "Long Live Islam, Long Live Afghanistan."
Both demonstrations were peaceful, condemning new Muhammad cartoons published by a French satirical magazine on Wednesday and the low-budget film "Innocence of Muslims", which has triggered protests around the world.
Similar rallies have been held across Afghanistan in the last four days. On Monday, a protest of more than 1,000 residents in eastern Kabul turned violent when the crowd set fire to cars and threw stones at
police. About 50 officers were slightly wounded.
Afghanistan is a devoutly Muslim nation and perceived insults to religion are taken very seriously, often with violent consequences. Earlier this year 40 people were killed in street unrest over the
burning of copies of the Qur’an by U.S. soldiers on a base.
The crudely made film produced by U.S.-based extremist Christians has triggered protests in at least 20 countries since excerpts were posted online.
The French satirical magazine Charlie's editor, Stephane Charbonnier, blamed the French government for criticizing him for being provocative.
By Sadroddin Musawi
Other links:
Analyst: Anti-Islam Film, Zionist False-Flag Operation
Analyst: Prophet Muhammad, Muslims’ Red Line
