HUNDREDS PROTEST CHARLIE HEBDO CARTOON AT AQSA MOSQUE

Jerusalem, 26 Rabiul Awwal 1436/17 January 2015 (MINA)– Hundreds of Palestinians protested in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound after Friday prayers against the publication of a cartoon of the prophet Muhammad by French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.

Protesters chanted slogans such as “Muhammad is our prophet forever” and “With our blood, we sacrifice ourselves for you, Messenger,” a Ma’an reporter said.

Participants also waved banners with the Shahada, or Islamic declaration of “There is no God but God and Muhammad is his messenger.”, Ma’an News Agency quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

Several members of the protest also burned the French flag.

Hundreds of Palestinians in Ramallah and Gaza City on Sunday participated in rallies in solidarity with France in light of the spate of attacks last week.

The rallies came the same day hundreds of thousands of people, including world leaders, gathered in Paris in a show of solidarity and defiance in the wake of the attacks that left 17 people dead last week.

In its first issue since the massacre, Charlie Hebdo featured a cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad on its cover holding a “Je suis Charlie” sign under the headline “All is forgiven.” (T/P010/R04)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)