Hundreds Hold Protests against Anti-Islam Film, Cartoons in Istanbul
Hundreds of protesters in Istanbul burnt U.S. and Israeli flags on September 23 in a heated reaction against an American film and French cartoons that have sparked rage across the Middle East and North Africa.
Around 500 people gathered around the Turkish city's iconic Taksim Square, chanting "Allahu Akbar" as they burnt Western flags in a display of fury for the inflammatory depictions of the Prophet Muhammad.
The crowd unfurled banners reading "Death to America" and "Death to France" as they shouted anti-Western slogans, urging the Muslim world to react against the anti-Islamic depictions in the West.
Riot police were stationed around the square and kept the area, populated with foreign missions, under tight security until the group, which dubbed themselves "Lovers of the Prophet", left peacefully.
Police sealed off access to the French mission. France's diplomatic posts have been the target of demonstrations across the Islamic region since the publication by French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo of cartoons insulting Prophet Muhammad.
On September 16, a small group of 50 protesters gathered in front of the U.S. Embassy in the Turkish capital Ankara in a non-violent demonstration against the amateurish American-made film "Innocence of Muslims", which insults Prophet Muhammad.
In cities across the Muslim world protesters have vented their fury at France and the United States for what they branded an attack against their religion by targeting their embassies, schools, and companies.
Four U.S. officials, including the ambassador to Libya, were killed in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi.
By Sadroddin Musawi
Other links:
Analyst: Anti-Islam Film, Zionist False-Flag Operation
Analyst: Prophet Muhammad, Muslims’ Red Line
Iran’s Leader: Enemies’ Chagrin behind blasphemous movie
Protests Held in Tehran to Condemn Insulting Cartoons
