French flags torched as Charlie Hebdo protests erupt from Algiers to Zinder

[Surya Gayatri]

Source: France 24

Pakistani demonstrators burn a French flag on January 16, 2014 during a protest against the printing of satirical sketches of the prophet by French magazine Charlie Hebdo.
Fresh unrest erupted Saturday in Niger, with French citizens told to stay indoors amid anger in several Muslim nations over a Prophet Mohammed cartoon published by Charlie Hebdo this week. Four people were killed on Friday at protests in Zinder.



Police fired tear gas at a fresh demonstration in Niger on Saturday against French weekly Charlie Hebdo's publication of a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed, according to AFP. At least 1,000 youths assembled at the grand mosque in the capital Niamey, some of them throwing rocks at police while others burned tyres and chanted "Allahu Akbar" ("God is Greatest&quot .

At least two churches were set on fire and France's embassy in Niamey warned French citizens to stay indoors after rioters also ransacked several French-linked businesses, including telephone kiosks run by Orange.


Read more: http://www.france24.com/en/20150117-charlie-hebdo-protests-niger-pakistan-algiers-zinder-france/

---

Dear God, will it never end? My soul bleeds to see the planet tearing itself apart this way.

[exboyfil]

1. Well I think there may be a little hold over

resentment from French colonial behavior in those countries.

[Surya Gayatri]

2. Granted, that's a given, but in PAKISTAN?

[exboyfil]

3. One European looks like another

We generalize so why shouldn't they. I doubt they see much difference between a French or British person besides they are joined at the hip in one larger economic union now anyway.

[Surya Gayatri]

4. True that, and Pakistan is especially touchy--a real powder keg...

[JI7]

11. no.it really is about the cartoons

That's why we aren't sing similar in Haiti or india (non Muslims). Or many other places the colonial powers fucked up.

[DBoon]

26. or former French southeast asia

One part of the world that would have every reason to show anger against their former colonial masters

[GliderGuider]

43. They already sorted that out at Dien Bien Phu... nt

[OnePercentDem]

23. They like

Such a open and understanding group.

[oberliner]

13. Absolute BS

Resentment from French colonial behavior in Karachi?

Just such a fatuous knee-jerk blame The West nonsensical comment.

[cheapdate]

5. Religious extremism riles me no matter what the religion.

[Surya Gayatri]

9. Why must people allow themselves to be goaded into hating...

while clinging so self-destructively to their supposedly loving God?

All religions purport to preach some form of "love thy neighbor" message.

[brush]

15. Sadly the Charlie Hebdo uproar spreading around the region is reminiscent of . . .

the furor caused by that anti-Muslim video that sparked BENGHAZI.

It's a dicey business that those in all forms of media are still grappling with in how one portrays other peoples' religious icons.

I should also add, it is a dangerous business.

[Surya Gayatri]

16. Couldn't agree more...dangerous, and how...

for the survival of the planet and the human race.

[The Green Manalishi]

46. Piss on their icons

[Rhinodawg]

6. Just great.

[Surya Gayatri]

7. What is the world to do? How to counter the rabble rousing

of the ignorant masses?

24/7 "news" feeds and "social" media just keep fueling the insanity.

[Rhinodawg]

8. Holy shit!!!!!!!!...is this the same guy from 2011 ?

my pic was from the UK.

NOW HES IN PAKISTAN !!

[Surya Gayatri]

10. Perhaps he's been cloned? God forbid...

[JI7]

12. interesting that there wasn't similar outrage over torture

I guess we see similar Ignorance in the united states with the fear over Ebola compared to doing anything about guns after all the shootings .

[oberliner]

14. Weirdly no such protest and anger in these countries in protest of what Boko Haram is doing

Or another horrific actions that one would think are a much more serious affront to Islam than cartoons.

[Surya Gayatri]

17. Yes, one might expect that the bloody annihilaton of

2000+ co-believers (for the mere sin of practicing a less stringent form of Islam) might provoke at least some condemnation from Muslim leaders.

But, the silence is deafening.

[Comrade Grumpy]

20. The silence is deafening only if you aren't listening.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2015/01/reza-aslan-anyone-who-asks-why-muslims-have-not-condemned-terrorism-cant-use-google/

Reza Aslan: Anyone who asks why Muslims have not condemned terrorism can’t use Google
Scott Kaufman SCOTT KAUFMAN
11 JAN 2015 AT 13:09 ET

On this morning’s edition of NBC’s Meet the Press, Reza Aslan spoke to Chuck Todd about whether “we’re at war with a strain of Islam” or Islam itself, Media Matters reports.

“There’s no question that there has been a virus that has spread throughout the Muslim world, a virus of ultra-orthodox puritanism,” Aslan replied. “But there’s also no question what the source of this virus is — whether we’re talking about Boko Haram, or ISIS, or al Qaeda, or the Taliban.”

“All of them have as their source Wahhabism, or the state religion of Saudi Arabia,” he said. “And as we all know, Saudi Arabia has spent over $100 billion in the past 20 or 30 years spreading this ideology throughout the world.”


When Todd asked who, in particular, needed to stand up and “talk to these folks,” Aslan replied, “first of all, let’s be clear that every single organization, major organization, Muslim organization throughout the world and in the United States, every prominent individual, be it political or religious leaders — everyone has condemned, not just this attack, but every attack that occurs in the name of Islam.”

“Anyone who keeps saying that we need to hear the moderate voice of Islam — why aren’t Muslims denouncing these violent attacks doesn’t own Google.”

“That said, I do think that we do need to do a better job of providing a counter-narrative. What really I think puts an obstacle in the way is opinions like Ayaan [Hirsi Ali]‘s and so many others in the political and the media mainstream who continue to say that 1.7 billion people are responsible for the actions of these extremists.”

“That doesn’t help the fight against radicalism,” Aslan continued. “The answer to Islamic violence is Islamic peace. The answer to Islamic bigotry is Islamic pluralism, and so that’s why I put the onus on the Muslim community, but I also recognize that that work is being done, that the voice of condemnation is deafening and if you don’t hear it you’re not listening.”

Watch the entire interview from January 11, 2015 edition of NBC’s Meet the Press below.

[Surya Gayatri]

21. I've yet to hear anything about Boko Haram atrocities from those same countries

where this violence is being fomented, or from the "leaders" that are fomenting it.

[Comrade Grumpy]

24. It took one-third of a second:

About 5,220,000 results (0.35 seconds)
Search Results
Muslims Of Nigeria Denounce and Condemn Boko Haram
muslimsagainstterror.com/muslims-of-nigeria-denounce-and-condemn-b...
We the Muslims of Nigeria hereby, unambiguously condemn in the strongest terms, the Boko Haram terrorists. Boko Haram are not our brothers, we reject to ...

Why Aren't Muslims Condemning Boko Haram? - Time
time.com/.../a-response-to-the-question-why-arent-muslims-condem...
Time
May 12, 2014 - Muslim religious scholars, intellectuals, activists, organizations, and countries have all condemned Boko Haram and the kidnappings in unison.

American Muslim Leaders Condemn Boko Haram
www.huffingtonpost.com/.../muslim-leaders-conde...
The Huffington Post
May 21, 2014 - Ellison and Carson are the only Muslim members of Congress, and they condemned the actions that Boko Haram have taken in the name of ...

Muslim leaders decry Boko Haram seizure of girls - Al Arabiya
english.alarabiya.net/.../Muslim-leader-condemn-Boko-Haram...
Al Arabiya
May 8, 2014 - Muslim leaders in various countries have criticized Boko Haram's leader for ... condemning the Boko Haram leader for “wrongly” citing Islamic ...

Muslim Organizations Condemn Boko Haram - The ...
theamericanmuslim.org/.../american-muslim-organizations-condemn-bok...
May 13, 2014 - Muslim Organizations Condemn Boko Haram. Al-Azhar ... Sunni Islam's foremost authority, Egypt's Al-Azhar Mosque, has condemned the ...
In the news

[Surya Gayatri]

25. This anti-French, anti-free-speech violence is not being

perpetrated or fomented in the US, Nigeria or in Egypt, afaik.

My question is, where are the condemnations for this latest wave of street violence directed at Western/French targets? And the condemnations of those who are saying "to hell with free-speech", "kill those who insult" Islam.

GOOGLE is an archival cache, don't forget.

[treestar]

27. Thank you

It is always true. And that argument is one I dislike; it makes people responsible for the actions of others due to group identification. There are plenty of groups for whom we would call that bigotry.

[davidthegnome]

18. Hmm.

Anyone who cries "Death to those who mock my religion!" should probably be considered at least somewhat dangerous - regardless of which particular religion it happens to be. As a non-religious person, I mock religion frequently - pretty much all of them. The idea that someone would behead me for it though... never really entered into my thoughts.

So I have decided that, in the future, I will mock all religions more frequently and more severely. These fanatics do not scare me. If they want my ugly mug, they can have it. This particular agnostic doesn't intend to quiver in fear of these assholes. Fuck them, fuck their ignorance, their hatred and their blood lust. If there is such a being as God, I devoutly hope it will rapture them all and leave the world to those of us who aren't fucking insane.

[Surya Gayatri]

19. Yes, dangerous for the survival of the planet, not to mention mankind...

[Rhinodawg]

52. "Fuck them, fuck their ignorance, their hatred and their blood lust."

really

[davidthegnome]

53. Yes. Really.

[msongs]

22. response behavior is chosen. killing in the name of religion is endemic nt

[Rhinodawg]

28. .

on edit...cartoons are allowed.

[Surya Gayatri]

30. Oh, là là ! Mr. Mohammed has an image problem.

Well, nothing a few clever spin doctors can't fix, surely?

He definitely needs a better publicist, not to mention a more adroit agent.

Great cartoon!

[DamnYankeeInHouston]

35. Beautiful toon. Thanks for sharing.

[Surya Gayatri]

29. I fear that is so, wherever religious belief is

callously exploited to manipulate the masses.

[PumpkinAle]

31. Think of the Westboro Baptist Church followers

and then think of a religion that has a massive hold on people that controls their thoughts, their access to real news and how they should respond..... that is Pakistan.

Sadly Pakistan is not a free country and its people are very ill-educated, religious dominated, kept afraid and still quite insular. The only reason that Pakistan features so largely is because they have nuclear weapons and continually rattle the sabre against India.

[Surya Gayatri]

33. Agree with all of this, especially:

"The only reason that Pakistan features so largely is because they have nuclear weapons and continually rattle the sabre against India."

Thought control and NEWSPEAK à la 1984, only in an Muslim Asian context.

[Anansi1171]

32. Whabbi and Salafi Islam are such jewels of modernity.

Honestly, we need a transnational tribe of connected grown-ups commited to breaking away from the bigoted bullying backwater bubbas that exist in all societies and that tend to roll around in the slop of the very worst beliefs man has ever produced like starved pigs.

[Surya Gayatri]

34. Pig, PIG? How dare you even pronounce that "haram"

word in the same paragraph as the word ISLAM?

[fbc]

37. Release the full 9/11 Commission report and let's see who is behind Muslim extremism

We all know it's Saudi Arabia, and indirectly the US through our support of Saudi Arabia.

[Surya Gayatri]

38. Sickening to see western world leaders kiss the hem of their

haute couture religious robes and pretend that they are worthy of marching in favor of unity and regligious tolerance.

A rep from the Saudi royal family was among the photo-op-ready gang that assembled in the Boulevard Volatire last Sunday.

Blatant hypocrisy and flagrant imposture. Tolerance and unity, mon cul !

[Jhon Smith]

39. French flags torched as Charlie Hebdo protests erupt from Algiers to Zinder

As the pope francis has said freedom of speech has limits
read more:http://theinceptioner.com/2015/01/16/pope-francis-freedom-speech-limits/

[Surya Gayatri]

41. With all due respect to Francis, whose free speech

should be curtailed in this instance?

CHARLIE's, for printing a cartoon? Or the violent street rabble in these countries are are pillaging and burning real people's property?

[Skittles]

49. so treating women and gay folk like garbage is A-OK

but cartoons are offensive? Are you fucking kidding?

[uppityperson]

40. as we feared, these attacks gave more oomph to promoting "us vs them". I too do

not understand why it has to be this way. Fears and frustrations yes, but how does tearing others down help your own position? Is it "if I am down, so will you be also"?

[Surya Gayatri]

42. This kind of stupidity doesn't even fit with their

Quranic attachment to the idea of an "eye for an eye".

So, protest through the printed word, or televised debate--not by burning, pillaging and looting.

The blinkered ignorance on display is deeply disturbing. Does not augur well for peaceful world progress, I fear.

Hey there, UP! Didn't see it was you!

[LiberalLovinLug]

44. I am the first to stand up for free speech

Last edited Sun Jan 18, 2015, 03:18 PM - Edit history (1)

But I wonder if throwing it back in their faces was the right decision for Charlie Hebdo, with another depiction of Mohammad on their new cover.




My increasingly atheist leanings, and my disgust with violence in the name of religion makes this cover, this slap in the face, satisfying in some kind of guilty pleasure way. Like the story about the gay couple buying a house across the street from the Westboro Baptist Church and painting it as a rainbow. But looking at the big picture, I think the paper could have been a little more thoughtful, at least for the first cover after.

I can't find the cartoon, but there is one editorial cartoon showing the Muslim policeman, who was shot and killed, on the side walk dead. Something based around that would have been much more powerful and helped to silence the radicals. Shoving it back in their faces only gives them an excuse to leap frog back to mindless rage.

[goldent]

51. I think the cover was all about "saving face"

No shortage of pride on either side.

[LiberalLovinLug]

54. I think you are right

It smacks of school yard taunting.

[The Green Manalishi]

45. Fuck them

[geek tragedy]

47. Uncivilized crybabies. nt

[Skittles]

48. very strange what they choose to accept and what they protest

reminds me of NRA gun humpers who get upset over penis analogies

[goldent]

50. Well, I guess more cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed

will have to be published to put these people in their place.

Because, I guess, freedom of the press means we have to double down on insulting Muslims \s

[leftynyc]

55. Look at it another way

If they had just sucked it up and ignored it, it would have stopped. But no, they had to feed into the narrative that nonsense will bring about violence and they got more nonsense. Do you place any of the blame on those committing the violence or is your scorn only for the cartoonists?