Insulting Sanctities to Fan Flame of Extremism: Iran's President


Insulting Sanctities to Fan Flame of Extremism: Iran's President

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani warned that insulting sanctities of other people in the name of freedom provokes extremism.

On January 14, 2015, the French satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo, featured a cartoon of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) weeping on the front cover of its first issue since the recent attacks in Paris.

Speaking at a cultural meeting in Tehran on Tuesday evening, Rouhani said, “Insulting and provoking the sentiment of other people in the name of freedom fans the flame of extremism.”

As regards Iran's stance on the issue, President Rouhani said, “Iran condemns resorting to terror, violence and extremism under the pretext of defending the religion as it also condemns any insult, blasphemy and provocation of the sentiment of followers of religions in the name of defending freedom.”

Rouhani further condemned the Paris terrorist attack, and said that neither Muslims nor Islam have anything to do with such moves.

“Both provocative behaviors … and acts of terror ... are regarded as treason against Islam,” he said, adding that all senior Muslim scholars and Muslim nations have fortunately condemned the heinous acts.

Since the publication of Charlie Hebdo’s new cartoon, thousands of Muslim people around the world have held rallies to condemn and protest the move.

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