Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Lahore (Agenzia Fides) - "Freedom of press is sacred, but it cannot be used to offend, ridicule or insult religion, especially the Islamic religion, which is very sensitive to the issue of blasphemy. We found a source of comfort and fully share the words of Pope Francis on the need to limit the freedom of offense". This is what says Fr. Bernard Inayat, a Catholic priest, theologian and journalist, Director of the magazine "The Christian view" published in Lahore, while street protests against the cartoonists of the French newspaper "Charlie Hebdo" are increasing in Pakistan. Today public demonstrations in front of the French consulate in Karachi resulted in clashes between protesters and the police, and at least three people were wounded. The protesters belong to the "Jamaat-e-Islami" youth movement, which has mobilized against the depiction of the Prophet Mohammed in the French satirical weekly.
Fr. Bernard: "words and images can hurt peoples feelings. Hence the reaction of the Islamic world. We welcomed the Holy Father’s intervention, on the plane from Colombo to Manila where he invited everyone to respect religions, and not to provoke".
"On the other hand - concluded the director - we firmly believe that each reaction should be peaceful, we condemn all forms of violence and express deep sympathy and solidarity with the victims of terrorism in France and around the world, reaffirming the absolute respect for all human life". (PA) (Agenzia Fides 16/01/2015)
