Pakistani Muslims demand death sentence for Charlie Hebdo staff

As worldwide protests continued for a second day, nearly 300 people from a religious group rallied in the eastern city of Lahore, carrying placards saying 'Down with Charlie Hebdo'.

One banner read: 'Making blasphemy cartoon of the Prophet is the worst act of terrorism. The sketch-makers must be hanged immediately.' 

Cartoonist Renald Luzier, who drew the image, had argued earlier this week that there should be no exceptions to freedom of expression.

Meanwhile funerals for four of his colleagues - the victims of the Charlie Hebdo attack in Paris last week - were held in France today. 

The Lahore rally came as Pakistani lawmakers staged their own demonstrations outside parliament after passing a resolution condemning the image of Islam's prophet in the French satirical newspaper.

The front cover shows a weeping Mohammed, holding a sign reading 'I am Charlie' with the words 'All is forgiven' above him. 

Like many other Muslim nations, Pakistan has condemned last week's deadly rampage at the office of Charlie Hebdo which killed 12 people, including editors, cartoonists and two policemen.

But the authorities have also condemned the publication of cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed, which many Muslims consider sacrilege.

Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Mohammad Yousuf said the lawmakers unanimously adopted the resolution condemning the publication of the images.

The resolution was mostly symbolic. 

Yousif did not say how many legislators were present, but he stressed that lawmakers from all political parties backed the measure. 

The resolution also condemned violence under any pretext.

After the vote, a group of lawmakers marched outside parliament, chanting: 'In the name of the prophet, we're ready to die.'

The minister said the resolution would be sent to all foreign missions in the country and to the United Nations, to register Pakistan's protest against the cartoons, which 'hurt our religious sentiments deeply.' 

(dailymail.co.uk)