.jpg "Culture Ministry spokesman Hossein Nushabadi")
TEHRAN -- The spokesman of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, Hossein Nushabadi, has asked the West to stop those who are insulting the Prophet Muhammad (S)
He made the remarks following the French magazine Charlie Hebdo’s decision to publish its latest edition with a cartoon of the Prophet of Islam (S) a week after the attacks in Paris which killed 17 including nine of Charlie Hebdo’s contributors.
“The West has an erroneous perception of freedom of expression,” Nushabadi told the Persian service of IRNA on Wednesday and added, “Insulting the sanctities, saints and leaders of a monotheistic religion is not part of freedom of expression.”
“Islam is a religion with over 1.5 billion followers… who do not tolerate such an offensive behavior,” he noted.
The first edition of Charlie Hebdo published on Tuesday since nine of its contributors were murdered has a cover showing the Prophet Mohammed and the slogan, “Tout est pardonné,” French for “All is forgiven”.
MMS/YAW
END