Pakistan: demonstration against France at the call of an Islamist party

Khadim Hussain Rizvi, leader of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik party, here in Lahore on July 23, 2018. ARIF ALI / AFP

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In Pakistan, anger against France still remains strong following the statements of President Emmanuel Macron who had given all his support for the freedom to caricature, on the occasion of a tribute to Samuel Paty, the French teacher assassinated on October 16 during an Islamist attack for showing caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad in class.

Several thousand people demonstrated this Sunday in Islamabad, a parade organized by an extremist Islamist group.

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With their fists raised, several thousand demonstrators shouted their anger against France, chanting extremely violent slogans: " 

Those who blaspheme must be killed

 " or " 

there is no other punishment for those who blaspheme. than to cut off their heads

 ”.

A demonstration organized by the ultra-conservative Islamist Tehreek-e-Labbaik, the same which had already gathered thousands of people in Karachi and Lahore at the end of October.

► To read also: Caricatures: the Pakistani Prime Minister accuses Macron of "attacking Islam"

Leaving in the middle of the afternoon from Rawalpindi in the south of Islamabad, the procession reached the capital at the end of the day.

4,000 Pakistani law enforcement personnel have been deployed in the capital, authorities said.

Several clashes broke out between the demonstrators and the police who tried to disperse the crowd using tear gas.

Without success.

Local journalists on site evoke a very tense atmosphere.

Blasphemy is an inflammatory issue in Pakistan.

Even unproven allegations of an offense against Islam can lead to lynchings and assassinations.

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  • Pakistan

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