Shura Council strongly condemns French magazine's offensive cartoons

Manama, Jan. 17. (BNA) – The Shura Council has strongly condemned the French magazine Charlie Hebdo's publication of offensive cartoons of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH). It also denounced the magazine's re-publishing the cartoons, stressing that the act reflected its insistence on provoking the feelings of Muslims in a way that contravened the ethics of journalism whose duty is to build societies and spread the values of tolerance and friendship among peoples, regardless of their religions and beliefs. In a statement issued today, the Shura Council expressed its categorical rejection of any attempt by any media outlet to abuse or distort any divine religion or its symbols. It called upon the French authorities to put an end to such an abuse of the Islamic religion, noting that such a conduct is an explicit incitement to violence and persistence in spreading the culture of hatred among peoples. The Council emphasised that the essence of freedom of expression is based on respect for others' freedoms and rights.