February 4, 2006	Saturday	Muharram 5, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, Feb 3: Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) here on Friday staged a protest demonstration against Denmark, France and Norway where newspapers had published 12 blasphemous cartoons and demanded of the government to end diplomatic and economic ties with these countries.

While backing the boycott of European products in the Middle East, the workers of religio-political alliance demanded of the government to declare the Danish ambassador persona non grata and ask him to leave the country immediately.

MMA leader Liaquat Baloch asked the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) to take up this issue and end diplomatic and trade ties with the European Union in case the leaders of these countries did not tender apology to the Muslim world.

He said the publication of sacrilegious cartoons, and that too in a series, in a number of European newspapers was not a matter of freedom of speech but a plot hatched against Islam and the Muslims. He asked the Muslims to unite and retaliate to such heinous attempts by European countries on every possible front.

The demonstration was held in front of Masjid Khulafa-i- Rashideen, Sector G-9/2, after Friday prayers. A large number of students of religious seminaries and citizens gathered on the occasion and raised slogans.

They asked the government to come up with a response similar to that of the Middle Eastern countries and boycott all EU products.

Speaking on the occasion, Mian Aslam said the West could be defied with economic means. He said if the Muslims started to boycott EU products it would have severe repercussions for the EU economy and they would not dare repeat this crime again.

A number of religious leaders delivered speeches on the occasion. They said it was a matter of shame for the Muslim countries that they were being disgraced one by one.

They said Muslim countries were being attacked while their rulers still enjoyed diplomatic and trade ties with the occupiers.

Our Correspondent adds: Hundreds of religious leaders and workers of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) Attock staged a protest demonstration here on Friday to condemn publication of blasphemous cartoons in a number of European newspapers.

The enraged protesters gathered here on the main Attock- Kamra Road near the district nazim’s house after Friday prayers and raised slogans against publishers and governments of the countries concerned.

Speaking on the occasion, MMA leaders including the alliance’s Attock president, Barkat Ali Khan, and Maulana Naeemullah Khan condemned the blasphemous incidents in Denmark, France and other European countries and urged Muslims to boycott products of these states.