Somalis protest against offensive cartoons on birthday of Prophet Mohammad
Protesters in Somalia's capital Mogadishu gathered on Thursday for a second day to protest against French President Emmanuel Macron and the printing of cartoons of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) in France.
Hundreds of people including clerics and youths gathered at a compound of an Islamic learning center to hold Mawlid celebrations, which marks Prophet Mohammad's birthday, and shouted slogans denouncing France and President Macron.
Some protesters carried paper drawings and photographs of Macron which they then burned while others chewed the pictures.
Protests have spread across the Muslim world since Macron made comments about Islam which angered many observers of the faith.
The row has its roots in a knife attack outside a French school on October 16 in which a man of Chechen origin beheaded Samuel Paty, a teacher who had shown pupils cartoons of Prophet Mohammad in a civics lesson on freedom of speech. The caricatures are considered blasphemous by Muslims.
Macron has pledged to fight "Islamist separatism", saying it was threatening to take over some Muslim communities in France.
Several world leaders including Imran Khan and Recep Tayyip Erdogan have spoken out against Macron's recent comments.
Boycotts of French goods have also been called for in some Muslim countries.
(Source: Reuters)
Terrorism in Africa increased 100,000% during US 'war on terror': Study
Death toll in Somalia twin car bombings claimed by Al-Shabaab rises to 35
EU aid for Ukraine
VIDEO | For Gaza: US campus protests
Riyadh summit: Muslim, Arab officials call for sanctions on Israel
Russian forces take over village in Donetsk: Report
US to be held responsible if Israel invades Rafah: Abbas
IRGC developing new kamikaze drone armed with smart loitering munitions
VIDEO | Press TV's news headlines
Host Saudi raises concerns over economic impact of Gaza war at global summit
Iranian students voice solidarity with pro-Gaza rallies in West
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
