By Shadi Khan Saif
KABUL
At least two people have been reported dead in the Afghan capital of Kabul as a protest rally against French magazine Charlie Hebdo turned violent on Saturday.
Kabul city police chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi, claimed some of the protesters were carrying arms, adding that no prior permission for the demonstration had been requested.
“Some criminal elements misused the opportunity by opening fire at the police,” he said.
It has been around three weeks since the latest Charlie Hebdo edition showed a cartoon of Prophet Muhammad on its cover in defiance to an attack of their office in Paris that claimed 12 lives, including several of its most prominent contributors.
In countries like Afghanistan and Pakistan, the rage against the “blasphemous caricatures” is just gaining momentum.
Hundreds of protesters came out to the streets in the Afghan capital Saturday morning blocking the Kabul-Jalalabad highway.
The energized participants chanted such slogans as “Death to France,” or “Blasphemy to the Prophet is unacceptable!”
Since the latest edition of the French satirical magazine, many small and large demonstrations have taken place across the country but this was the most charged.
Protesters, some of them carrying batons, wished to proceed to the diplomatic enclave of the capital.
Police had however already cordoned off the area.
Two weeks ago, similar protest turned violent in Pakistan as protesters tried to attack the French Consulate in the port city of Karachi on Jan. 16. Three people including a journalist sustained injuries then.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani had condemned the armed assault on the Charlie Hebdo office but called the publication of Prophet Muhammad’s caricature was a misuse of freedom of the press.
