Kashmiris stage strike in protest at Charlie Hebdo
People across the Indian-administered Kashmir have held a shutdown strike in protest at the recent publication of a blasphemous cartoon of Islam's holy Prophet Mohammad by the French satirical daily, Charlie Hebdo.
On Friday, almost all shops, private offices and businesses remained closed, while traffic stayed off the streets in Srinagar and some other major towns of the disputed Kashmir Valley.
Local authorities have restricted movement of residents in parts of the main city of Srinagar to prevent protests and clashes after Muslim Friday Prayers.
The prayers' leaders are expected to deliver speeches against what is believed to be a smear campaign by Western media aimed at promoting Islamophobia and intensifying hostility against Muslims.
The strike came following a call by pro-independence groups and religious parties for a daylong strike across the Muslim-majority region.
Indian forces overnight detained a top pro-independence leader, Mohammed Yasin Malik, who called for the strike and protests.
Contingents of Indian forces have been deployed to parts of the region to prevent more protest rallies and any unwanted incident.
In the recent past, angry protesters in many countries, including Niger, Yemen and Pakistan, have staged similar demonstrations to condemn Charlie Hebdo.
On January 14, the French satirical magazine, whose Paris office was attacked by two gunmen on January 7, once again published a cartoon of the Prophet on the cover of its new edition despite warnings that the move is provocative.
The weekly has repeatedly provoked Muslim anger by publishing cartoons of Prophet Mohammad.
The al-Qaeda branch in Yemen claimed responsibility for the attack on Charlie Hebdo.
JR/MKA
Pezeshkian says seeking to prevent conflict expansion as Modi blasts Israel’s genocide
Putin: BRICS, not the West, will drive global economic prosperity
Party opposed to India’s stripping Kashmir’s autonomy wins key vote
US vetoing of Gaza ceasefire resolution ‘disgraceful’: Iran’s UN envoy
VIDEO | IAEA adopts anti-Iran resolution tabled by E3
VIDEO | Iran's president urges Pope to help end Israel's onslaught in Gaza
Iran's senior legal official: ICC arrest warrant for Netanyahu ‘great victory'
Nov. 21: ‘Axis of Resistance’ operations against Israeli occupation
VIDEO | Israeli forces storm West Bank’s Jenin again, target civilians
Iran activates advanced centrifuges after IAEA's 'unjust' resolution
VIDEO | Press TV's news headlines
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
