Reaction to publication of blasphemous caricatures

Pakistan strongly condemns the publication of blasphemous caricatures in a French magazine.

Echoing the sentiments of the people of Pakistan, the President and the Prime Minister have strongly condemned the publication, which has caused great offence to Muslims by hurting their sentiments and religious sensibilities all over the world.

We believe that freedom of expression should not be misused as means to attack or hurt public sentiments or religious beliefs.

This is an attempt to divide peoples and civilizations. There is a need to promote harmony among peoples and communities instead of reinforcing stereotypes and making people alienated in their own countries.

The National Assembly and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee have passed resolutions condemning the blasphemous publication which has hurt the core belief of all Muslims and called upon the international community, especially the O.I.C. to take decisive steps to stop such practices.

The Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs has accordingly written a letter to the OIC Secretary General recommending appropriate measures including legal action criminalization of all acts of Islamophobia and to prevent their recurrence.

Islamabad
20 January 2015

22/2015