KARACHI, Feb 7: The Jamaat-i-Islami has announced to launch a “Tahaffuz-i-Namoos-i-Risalat” campaign by staging a million march rally on March 5 in Karachi against the publications of blasphemous cartoons in Denmark and other European countries.

This decision was announced by the JI Deputy Chief, Senator Prof Ghafoor Ahmad, at a press conference held at the Idara Noor-i-Haq.

He invited all political and religious parties to join hands in the million march, which will be organized throughout the country including Karachi to give a message to the world that no Muslim would tolerate blasphemy against the Prophet (SAW).

Demanding that European governments should offer apologies to Muslims and desist from inciting their feelings, the JI leader asked them to follow the UN charter, saying that freedom of expression should not be made the bone of contention.

Prof Ghafoor also called upon the Pakistani government to expel the envoys of the concerned countries, take up the issue in the UN and summon an OIC meeting.

He pointed out that the submissive protest of the Pakistani government did not reflect the true feelings of Muslims.

He expressed solidarity with the business community for observing a complete strike against publications of the insulting cartoons.

Prof Ahmad said the feelings of Muslims of the entire world had been hurt by the blasphemous images, adding that European leaders should extend apologies to the Muslim Ummah for hurting their sentiments.

He said freedom of expression did not at all mean blaspheming prophets. “This attitude of the European countries reflects their anti-Muslim stance and conveys the message that despite numbering 1.4 billion and with 60 countries, Muslims in the world held no importance.”

He recalled that when these sketches first appeared in a Danish newspaper in September last, the Muslims living there lodged protests over their publication and had demanded the government to take action against those responsible for hurting their feelings.

But the Danish government took no notice of their demands and become a source of encouragement for other European countries, which resulted in the provocation of Muslim feelings throughout the world.

The senator blasted the Organisation of Islamic Conference for failing to take notice of blasphemous incidents in European countries and for failing to represent the feelings of Muslims on such sensitive issues.

He said no Muslim would tolerate blasphemy against the Prophet (SAW).

He pointed out that the Western world called itself secular where politics and Church were separate but there was still a law under which insulting Jesus Christ was a cognizable crime.

Prof Ahmad said the Western world talked about freedom in their countries but their freedom could be assessed very well from the fact that Muslim girls were not allowed to attend school or college with her covered face.

“What objectives does the West want to achieve through provocations of feelings of 60 Islamic countries and 1.4 billion Muslims,” he asked.

He said the governments of European countries were responsible for the ongoing protests against them.

The JI leader said Muslims of the world are one and united against the desecration of Prophet. They will protect the sanctity of the Prophet (SAW) and will never tolerate any audacity in respect of the Prophet (SAW).

Dr Mairajul Huda Siddiqui, chief of JI Karachi, on the occasion said that the stubborn attitude of the European countries had pushed the world on the verge of devastation, as Muslims had risen up to protect the sanctity of their Prophet Muhammad (SAW). But, he regretted that the European Union and the western countries instead of showing respect for the UN charter were criticising Muslims.

He said: “Islam is the religion of humanity and Muslims give respect to all religions but if the European attitude remains the same, friendship would not last.”

He criticised the so-called enlightened rulers who were towing the West’s line. This, he said was encouraging the West and enemies of the Mustafvi civilisation to insult the most respectable and beloved personality of Muslims.