Doha: Qatar warned today that publishing cartoons of Prophet Mohammed would "fuel hatred and anger", as a leading Muslim body called for peaceful protests against French weekly Charlie Hebdo.
Qatar "condemned the reprinting by French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and other European press of pictures offensive to Prophet Mohammed," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
"Freedom of speech does not mean insulting others, hurting their feelings, and mocking their religious beliefs and idols," said the statement published by the official QNA news agency.
"These disgraceful actions are in the interest of nobody and will only fuel hatred and anger," it warned, describing them as a "violation of human values of peaceful coexistence, tolerance, justice, and respect among people."
The new issue of the French magazine, published on Wednesday, features a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed on its cover holding a "Je Suis Charlie" sign under the headline "All is forgiven".
It was the first edition of Charlie Hebdo to be published since Islamist gunmen killed 12 people in an attack on its Paris offices on January 7.
Qatar, accused of backing radical Islamists, urged Western media "to respect others and their beliefs and to steer away from intolerance and extremism, and to commit to the values upon which Western civilization was built."
The magazine, which normally has a print run of around 60,000, said on Wednesday that it would print five million copies this week because of unprecedented demand. The magazine sold out across France within minutes of publication.
The Qatar-based International Union of Muslim Scholars, headed by influential preacher Yusuf al-Qaradawi, criticized the "world's shameful and unexcused silence" on the "insulting of religions".
In a statement released on Thursday it warned of "heavy consequences of continuing to insult Islam, the Koran, and the Prophet".
"No sane person could accept inciting sedition under the name of freedom of expression," it said.
The association urged "peaceful demonstrations" against offending Prophet Mohammed and called for "Muslim governments to intervene and demand an international law by the United Nations that criminalizes offending religions and prophets."
The Qatari government and Qaradawi's group- which is linked to the Muslim Brotherhood- were both quick to condemn the deadly attack on Charlie Hebdo.
Qatar "condemned the reprinting by French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and other European press of pictures offensive to Prophet Mohammed," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
"Freedom of speech does not mean insulting others, hurting their feelings, and mocking their religious beliefs and idols," said the statement published by the official QNA news agency.
The new issue of the French magazine, published on Wednesday, features a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed on its cover holding a "Je Suis Charlie" sign under the headline "All is forgiven".
It was the first edition of Charlie Hebdo to be published since Islamist gunmen killed 12 people in an attack on its Paris offices on January 7.
Advertisement
The magazine, which normally has a print run of around 60,000, said on Wednesday that it would print five million copies this week because of unprecedented demand. The magazine sold out across France within minutes of publication.
Advertisement
In a statement released on Thursday it warned of "heavy consequences of continuing to insult Islam, the Koran, and the Prophet".
Advertisement
The association urged "peaceful demonstrations" against offending Prophet Mohammed and called for "Muslim governments to intervene and demand an international law by the United Nations that criminalizes offending religions and prophets."
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Qatar Financial Centre Activates Digital Assets Lab Nearly a Year After Announcement What India Said On Qatar Seizing Guru Granth Sahib Russia, Ukraine Were Set For Ceasefire Talks In Doha. Then A Shock Assault 9 Dead, 2,800 Hurt As Pagers Explode Across Lebanon, Hezbollah Blames Israel 'Pager Bombs' Target Hezbollah In Lebanon. What We Know So Far - 5 Points Highlights: Arvind Kejriwal Resigns, Atishi To Be Delhi Chief Minister Kamala Harris Dials Trump After Apparent Assassination Attempt Ghislaine Maxwell's Sex-Trafficking Conviction Upheld, Appeal Planned Stage Set For Phase 1 Of J&K Elections Today, 24 Seats Up For Contest Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.