Caricature of the Prophet Muhammad: Malaysia disheartened about the incident - Dr Zulkifli
Dania Zainuddin
October 27, 2020 15:24 MYT
October 27, 2020 15:24 MYT
Dr Zulkifli says he believes that both countries have the same stance that acts of extremism and terrorism are not representative of any religion in the world. FILEpic/Astro Awani
KUALA LUMPUR: Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs), Datuk Seri Dr Zulkifli Mohammad Al-Bakri wrote a special letter to the French Ambassador to Malaysia in respond to the caricature of Prophet Muhammad by a French weekly newspaper, today.
On his Facebook post, Dr Zulkifli informed that the letter represents Muslims in Malaysia, and he believes that both countries have the same stance that acts of extremism and terrorism are not representative of any religion in the world.
“Referring to the latest issue of Charlie Hebdo's cartoon regarding Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), we are also disconsolate and disheartened about the incident," he said.
"We share the same expression with Shaykh Dr. Ahmed al-Tayyib, Grand Imam of al-Azhar and the chairman of Muslim Council of Elders. It is hard to believe in this modern world, some of us still does not have even the acquaintance on the importance of living with peaceful co-existence."
The letter also mentioned that Muslims will not avenge the provocative actions, instead adhere to the teachings of the Prophet.
"We as Muslims will not avenge the provocative cartoon the same may or express any discourtesy to the public. We strongly hold on to the saying of the Prophet, The best among you is the one who doesn't harm others with his tongue and hands."
Recently, Muslims around the world calls for boycotts of French products and protests on Monday, as a clash over depictions of the Prophet Muhammad and the limits of free speech intensified.
Protests have been held in Turkey and the Gaza Strip and are being planned in Pakistan.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called on Turks to boycott French goods amid a row over France's tougher stance on radical Islam.
On the 16th of October, the beheading of a French teacher who had shown caricatures of the prophet in class also ignited a debate over such depictions which Muslims consider blasphemous.
Charlie Hebdo, who was the target of the shooter in 2015, announced that he wanted to republish the controversial cartoon.
It is understood that the action coincided with the start of the trial of the siblings, Said and Cherif Kouachi who were accused of carrying out an armed attack at the newspaper office in Paris.
#Charlie Hebdo
#France
#Paris
#Dr Zulkifli
#caricature
#Recep Tayyip Erdogan
#Dr Zulkifli Mohammad Al-Bakri