Violent Anti-Western Protests Continue in Pakistan

Two protesters were killed and thousands in the Pakistani city of Lahore attacked fast-food outlets and the Provincial Assembly building in continuing protests over editorial cartoons showing the Muslim prophet, Muhammad. Violent protests also spread to other major cities across Pakistan.

More than 10,000 people flooded the streets of Lahore, directing their anger over the cartoons at government and Western targets. Although the cartoons were first published in Denmark, the mobs attacked U.S.-based fast-food restaurants and a hotel, a British bank, a Norwegian office, and the Punjab Provincial Assembly building.

Officials say stone-throwing protesters smashed windows in several McDonald's, KFCs and Pizza Hut outlets.

Witnesses also reported that a Holiday Inn and more than 200 cars were damaged. Hundreds of people ransacked a Norwegian mobile phone company before police used tear gas to disperse them.

Interior Minister Aftab Khan Sherpao, speaking on state television, says two protesters in Lahore died when a security guard fired on demonstrators trying to force their way into the bank he was guarding.

Demonstrators also turned out in the capital, Islamabad, where lawmakers staged a silent march down the city's main thoroughfare.

Amin Faheen heads the opposition Pakistan People's Party. Surrounded by fellow protesters, he said Western countries need to respond to the enormous outrage the Danish cartoons have provoked across the Muslim world.

"We do not support violence, but if our feelings are not consoled, then I think people have all the right to do whatever they want to do," said Amin Faheen. "Then we will not lead them, they will lead us."

Earlier, hundreds of students stormed the capital's high-security diplomatic enclave. Brandishing sticks and stones, the students rushed past a security gate and briefly attacked a British bank inside the compound.

Police quickly drove the protesters out and regained control of the grounds, which house a number of Western diplomatic missions including the U.S. embassy.

The Danish drawings, which were republished by newspapers in a number of Western countries, include several caricatures of Islam's Prophet Muhammad. Muslims have called the drawings insulting and blasphemous.

News Summary and Analyses:

The Denmark cartoon crisis has aroused the anger of the whole world. It is considered to have been a serious offence to Islam.

The American and English press have responded with a neutral tone. On the one hand, the UK Prime Minister criticized the disrespect of religion by the European press and the media as irresponsible, insulting, flippant and wrong. The liberty of expression which results in religious or racial animosity is unacceptable.

Many demonstrations have been organized world-wide. Among all these, Pakistan has undergone the most violent.

But we should also recognize that some leaders have used their people’s angry emotional response to the cartoons for their own political purposes. In fact, we need things to calm down, so that people on both sides can become aware of the nature of the problem.

Brief, the crisis has raised serious questions about the balance between freedom of expression and respect for religious beliefs.

Question for discussion:

n Is the conflict which has emerged this time between western countries and Islam world ultimately due to racial discrimination?

References:

More Cartoons Protests in Pakistan, Solana says Europe Respects Islam

http://www.voanews.com/english/2006-02-13-voa29.cfm

Prime Minister Says Denmark a Scapegoat for Muslim Frustrations

http://www.voanews.com/english/2006-02-12-voa26.cfm