PESHAWAR, March 3: The Awami National Party has asked European countries to take punitive action against newspapers which printed the blasphemous cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to defuse the current unrest in the Muslim world.

“The reaction in the shape of agitations and protests by the Muslims across the world against the blasphemous cartoons are very natural.

The Ummah could not tolerate blasphemous acts against Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), who was benefactor of all humankind,” said ANP’s provincial secretary-general in a press statement issued on Friday.

In the wake of increasing tension in Muslim countries following the publication of the cartoons, it was the moral responsibility of the respective countries to take punitive action against the persons and publications responsible, he said.

He also suggested to political parties not to politicise the issue because it was a matter of honour of the prophet and the religion.

The ANP’s secretary-general said that European countries should also tender an unconditional apology to the Ummah so as to pacify them.

He urged people to hold peaceful demonstrations to register their anger over the issue and refrain from resorting to violence.