KARACHI: Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that insulting Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) does not count as expression of artistic freedom but is a “violation of religious freedom”, according to state news agency TASS.

Prime Minister Imran Khan welcomed Putin’s statement, calling it reaffirmation of his views.

The Russian president made the remarks during his annual press conference in Moscow on Thursday, TASS reported. Putin said that insults to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) were a violation of ‘the sacred feelings of people who profess Islam’, according to Dawn.com.

TASS reported that the Russian president also criticised the publication of blasphemous sketches in French magazine Charlie Hebdo.

Such acts, the report quoted Putin as saying, gave rise to extremist reprisals.

Imran hails statement, calls it reaffirmation of his message

Artistic freedom had its limits and it shouldn’t infringe on other’s freedoms, he said.

Russia had evolved as a multiethnic and multi-confessional state and so Russians were used to respecting each other’s traditions, he said, adding that in some other countries, however, this respect came in short supply.

PM welcomes Putin’s remarks

While welcoming Putin’s statement, Prime Minister Khan said it “reaffirms my message that insulting Holy Prophet (PBUH) is not ‘freedom of expression’.”

“We Muslims, especially Muslim leaders, must spread this message to leaders of the non-Muslim world to counter Islamophobia,” the premier said.

Published in Dawn, December 25th, 2021