QUETTA: Hundreds of people belonging to Hindu, Sikh and Christian commu­nities and led by MPA Danesh Kumar, Pastor Simon Bashir and Sikh community leader Sardar Jasbeer Singh staged a protest sit-in here against the Fre­nch government and Presi­dent Emmanuel Macron for defending the republication of blasphemous caricatures by a magazine in France under ‘free speech rights’ and the desecration of the Holy Quran by some irresponsible elements in some developed countries.

The protesters started a march from the Arya Samaj temple and after marching on different roads of the city staged the sit-in outside the Quetta Press Club. They chanted slogans against the French government and president.

Addressing the protes­ters, speakers condemned the French government and president for defending the republication of blasphe­mous caricatures and said that it had hurt the feelings of Muslims across the globe.

They urged the Pakistan government to call back the country’s ambassador in France to register its protest.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Kumar said that the rep­ublication of blasphe­mous caricatures by the French magazine and the French government’s decision of defending it had hurt the feelings of not only Muslims, but also members of mino­­rity communities in Pakistan.

Rejecting the French government’s support to the magazine under the guise of the freedom of expression, he said that no one had the right to insult any religion. Such behaviours would destroy the world peace, he added.

Pastor Bashir said that the Christian community in Pakistan not only strongly condemned the republica­tion of blasphemous carica­tures, but also demanded an apology from the French government for supporting the magazine.

Jasbeer Singh said that the minority communities in Pakistan condemned the republication of blasphemous caricatures by the French magazine and its support by the French government.

According to reports, protest demonstrations aga­inst the French government were held also in Dera Murad Jamali and Khuzdar which were attended by a large number of people, including members of minority communities.

Published in Dawn, November 1st, 2020