Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan wrote to leaders of Muslim countries on Wednesday (October 28th) asking them to act together against Islamophobia, as anger grows over France's defense of the freedom to caricature religions.
Read also: Caricatures: the French ambassador summoned to Pakistan
"
Recent statements by leaders and incidents of desecration of the Holy Quran are a reflection of the rise of Islamophobia which is spreading in European countries
", according to this missive published on the Twitter account of the head of the Pakistani government.
“
As leaders of Muslim politics, we must take the lead in calling for an end to this cycle of hatred and violence,
” the message continues.
"
I urge all of our Muslim leaders ... to raise their voices and explain to the leaders of non-Muslim countries, especially those of Western countries, the deep respect and love that all Muslims have for their holy book , the Koran, and for our prophet,
”he adds.
Tens of thousands of people demonstrated on Tuesday around the world, especially in Bangladesh, after Emmanuel Macron's defense of the freedom to caricature during the tribute to a teacher killed for showing caricatures of Muhammad.
Calls to boycott French products have been made in several countries.
Small gatherings have so far been held in Pakistan this week.
In Peshawar (Northwest), a photo of the French president was stuck to the ground as a doormat in the entrance of a hotel, AFP noted.
Read also: Caricatures: Tunis condemns an anti-Muslim campaign
Imran Khan, former cricket champion and playboy who made a religious turn, accused the French president on Sunday of "
attacking Islam
".
“
What happened in France made life difficult for Muslims in the West.
Hatred and Islamophobia have spread against them.
Women wearing the hijab are insulted in the streets,
”he said on Wednesday at a rally in Lahore, the capital of eastern Pakistan.
Blasphemy is an inflammatory issue in Pakistan, where even unproven allegations of insulting Islam can lead to assassinations and lynchings.
The Pakistani prime minister also announced on Sunday that he wrote to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg asking him to block Islamophobic content, after the platform announced in mid-October that it would ban Holocaust-denying content.