Muslims angrily protest over 'crying Muhammad' on Charlie Hebdo latest cover

oge okonkwo

January 15, 2015 5:32 PM

Some Muslims felt their expressions of solidarity with Charlie Hebdo after last week's attack had been rebuffed, while others feared the cartoon would trigger yet more violence

Muslims across the world - from Turkey to the Philippines, have staged angry protests over the decision of French satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo to depict the Prophet Mohammed on its latest front cover.

About five million copies of the newspaper were sold yesterday - the first publication to hit the stands since the terror attack on its office which killed 12 people.

The front cover showed a weeping Mohammed, holding a sign reading 'I am Charlie' with the words 'All is forgiven' above him.

Copies have since been selling on eBay for three-figure sums as customers rush to get their hands on the edition.

However, many Muslims believe their faith forbids depictions of the prophet and reacted with dismay - and occasionally anger - to the latest cover image.

Some Muslims felt their expressions of solidarity with Charlie Hebdo after last week's attack had been rebuffed, while others feared the cartoon would trigger yet more violence.

'You're putting the lives of others at risk when you're taunting bloodthirsty and mad terrorists,' said Hamad Alfarhan, a 29-year old Kuwaiti doctor.

In the Philippines, there were angry protests at the front cover and also the perceived double standards by the West.

Placards by demonstrators in Marawi were held aloft which accused the West of remaining silent over the deaths of Muslims and that said 'You are Charlie, I love Mohammed'.

In one rally a picture of the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, was set on fire and banners waved that declared there would be no apology from the Islamic world for the Paris massacre.

oge okonkwo