RIYADH, Saudi Arabia: The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) plans to sue the French satirical weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo for publishing the offensive caricatures.
Talking to media in Riyadh, the secretary general of the 57-nation organisation Iyad Madani condemned the new edition of Charlie Hebdo as “an idiotic step that requires necessary legal measures”.
“OIC is studying Europe and French laws and other available procedures to be able to take legal action against Charlie Hebdo,” the OIC secretary general said.
“If French laws allow us to take legal procedures against Charlie Hebdo, OIC will not hesitate to prosecute the French magazine,” he added.
The republication of cartoons of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) by Charlie Hebdo last week sparked intense condemnations across the Muslim world as the caricatures hurt the sentiments of Muslims.
Condemnations against blasphemous caricatures
On Thursday, the Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said that publication of cartoons of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is a grave provocation and will not be tolerated.
“Freedom of the press does not mean freedom to insult,” the Davutoğlu said in Ankara on Thursday, a day after the French satirical weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo published a new cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) despite the killing of 12 persons in an attack on its offices in Paris.
“We cannot allow insults to the prophet… Printing the cartoon is a grave provocation,” the Turkish premier said.
Likewise, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also strongly condemned the publication of blasphemous caricatures in the French magazine.
“Freedom of speech should not be used to hurt the religious sentiments of any community,” Sharif said in a statement on Thursday.
Nawaz Sharif said that the publication of provocative material should be discouraged by the international community.
The Afghan President Ashraf Ghani condemned Charlie Hebdo, calling the newest cover image of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) a blasphemous and irresponsible act.
“Freedom of expression should be used in a way to boost understanding between the religions,” he said in a statement issued by the presidential palace.
The Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Abadi also issued a statement of condemnation, warning that “offensive words might lead to further bloodshed”.
Haider Abadi also reiterated his condemnation of the attacks on innocent victims in Paris, saying that terrorism, “has nothing to do with Islam in any way”.
On January 7, at least 12 persons including two policemen were killed while 10 wounded when two unknown gunmen attacked the Paris headquarters of Charlie Hebdo, which has repeatedly provoked Muslim anger by publishing cartoons mocking the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
