Hezbollah Condemns New Charlie Cartoon as ‘Provocation’
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Lebanese Hezbollah Movement strongly condemned as a “dangerous insult” the publication of new cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) by French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, which was attacked by extremists last week.
In a statement on Wednesday, Hezbollah said the cartoons carried “an insult to the Prophet Muhammad, Islam, religions and the sanctities of humanity in general.”
The first issue of Charlie Hebdo published since the attack in Paris that decimated its staff and sent shockwaves around the world was sold out within minutes at kiosks across France. The issue features a cartoon of a tearful Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) on its cover, holding a "Je Suis Charlie" sign under the headline "All is forgiven."
“This act is certainly unacceptable and it cannot be justified under any consideration that the ones behind this heinous act might be hiding behind,” Hezbollah was quoted by Lebanon’s Naharnet as saying.
“What the French magazine has committed once again is a major provocation against the sentiments of more than 1.5 billion Muslims, and against all the followers of monotheistic religions and those who are keen on dialogue and unifying common values,” the party added.
It warned that the move “directly contributes to shoring up terrorism, extremism and extremists.”
Hezbollah Secretary General Seyed Hassan Nasrallah had on Friday said that militants have caused more offense to Muslims than any “book, cartoon or film.”
"Through their shameful, heinous, inhumane and cruel words and acts, (these groups) have offended the prophet, religion... the holy book and the Muslim people more than any other enemy," said Nasrallah.
He did not specifically mention Charlie Hebdo's cartoons, but said the "authors of offensive books and cartoons that were insulting to the prophet" are among Islam's enemies.