Pakistani protesters burn effigy of Macron and French flag.

Headline

Pakistani protesters burn effigy of Macron and French flag.

Intro

Protesters in Karachi burn French flag and effigy of French president Emmanuel Macron for his anti-Islam remarks and display of the insulting caricatures of Prophet Muhammad in France.

Story

SHOTLIST: KARACHI, PAKISTAN (OCTOBER 31, 2020) (VNA – ACCESS ALL)  

    PROTESTERS BURNING EFFIGY OF FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON AND FRENCH FLAG
    PROTESTERS KICKING AS EFFIGY BURNS
    DEMONSTRATOR HOLDING BANNER AND PLACARDS, CHANTING “DOWN WITH BLASPHEMER” AND “DOWN WITH FRANCE”
    YOUNG PROTESTERS CHANTING “DEATH IS ACCEPTABLE IN SERVICE OF PROPHET”
    PROTESTERS HOLSING BANNER THAT READS (Urdu) “END DIPLOMATIC TIES WITH FRANCE IMMEDIATELY”
    PROTESTERS CHANTING “GOD IS GREATEST”
    PROTESTERS GESTURING CURSE AT THE PICTURE OF FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON
    VARIOUS OF PROTESTER DRAGGING EFFIGY OF MACRON ON GROUND
    PROTESTERS CHANTING “OUR LIVES WILL BE SACRIFICED FOR THE HONOUR OF PROPHET”
    PROTESTERS RAISING HANDS AND CHANTING  
    (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) A PROVICIAL LEADER OF JAMAAT-E-ISLAMI, ASADULLAH BHUTTO, SAYING: “We condemn French president and his government. On this occasion, I will appeal to people to boycott each and every product of France. Also, I will appeal to the government (of Pakistan) to expel the French ambassador within 24 hours. It should end diplomatic relations with France and stop all import and export. I will also demand Pakistan to go forward and protest at United Nations, OIC (Organisation of Islamic countries) and other international forums.”
    EFFIGY OF MACRON AND FRENCH FLAG ON GROUND AS PROTESTERS STAND
    PROTESTERS, WITH RAISED HANDS, CHANTING

 

STORY: Protesters belonging to various religious groups on Saturday (October 31) staged a protest outside Karachi Press Club and burned French flag and effigy of French president Emmanuel Macron for his anti-Islam remarks and display of the insulting caricatures of Prophet Muhammad.

A protester dragged the effigy on ground before setting it on fire as other protesters chanted “down with blasphemer” and “Down with France”.

A protest leader vehemently denounced France for the act of blasphemy and demanded Pakistani government to end diplomatic ties with France and proceed to launch protest at international forums.

“We condemn French president and his government. On this occasion, I will appeal to people to boycott each and every product of France. Also, I will appeal to the government (of Pakistan) to expel the French ambassador within 24 hours. It should end diplomatic relations with France and stop all import and export. I will also demand Pakistan to go forward and protest at United Nations, OIC (Organisation of Islamic countries) and other international forums,”said Asadullah Bhutto, a provincial leader of Jamaat-e-Islami.

The blasphemous caricatures of Prophet Muhammad on French government buildings have spread anger in Muslims worldwide.  

Tens of thousands of Muslims staged anti-French protests after Friday prayers in Pakistan, Bangladesh and the Palestinian territories on October 30.  

In Islamabad, police briefly fired tear gas at protesters and dispersed them before they could demonstrate at the French embassy. In Bangladesh, the protesters carried banners calling Macron "the world’s biggest terrorist".

The incident took place two weeks after a school teacher in a Paris suburb, was beheaded by an 18-year-old Chechen. The teacher had shown his pupils such cartoons in a class on freedom of expression.

Macron has said France will not compromise on its basic freedoms of belief and expression.

 

End of shows and script

VNA Karachi…..Shahab