Amid the increase in incidents of Islamophobia, targeting Muslims over their beliefs, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that insulting Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) does not count as freedom of expression.
Putin’s views came during his annual press conference, during which he stressed the importance of “artistic freedom without hindrance to religious freedom”.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that insulting Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) does not count as freedom of expression.
Putin’s views came during his annual press conference, during which he stressed the importance of “artistic freedom without hindrance to religious freedom”.
Insults to the Holy Prophet (PBUH) are a “violation of religious freedom and the violation of the sacred feelings of people who profess Islam,” Putin said.
The Russian president also expressed his disapproval of websites posting photos of Nazis.
He said that such acts “give rise to extremist reprisals”, an example of which is the attack on the office of Charlie Hebdo magazine in Paris after it published blasphemous cartoons of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).
Prime Minister Imran Khan welcomed Putin’s statement, saying that it reaffirms his own message that insulting the Holy Prophet (PBUH) cannot be considered freedom of expression.
“We Muslims, especially Muslim leaders, must spread this message to leaders of the non-Muslim world to counter Islamophobia,” the premier wrote on Twitter.
Meanwhile, Ulema-Mashaykh and religious scholars from across Pakistan on Saturday lauded Russian President Vladimir Putin’s remarks on ‘Namoose-e-Risalat’ and thanked the president.
They said that the Russian president’s stance on blasphemy and Islamophobia has endorsed Pakistan’s stance on Namoose-e-Risalat and Islamophobia.
The statement of Russian President Vladimir Putin has hinted and clarified that the world is becoming aware and realizing the sensitivity of these sensitive issues.
Religious scholars said that the stance that Prime Minister Imran Khan has taken forward before the world on Namoose-e-Risalat (S.A.W) and Islamophobia has proved a success following the statement of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
They said that time is near when the United Nations will enact legislation to contain blasphemy on Namoose-e-Mustafa (S.A.W) Islamophobia and the heavenly religions and prophets.
Along with several other sensitive issues, damaging the peace of the world, Islamophobia is one. The world must understand that Islam is a religion of peace and the growing hatred in the hearts of extremists across the globe against Muslims must be addressed. For this, there is a need for the Muslim world to speak blatantly and make the message clear that hurting someone’s religious sentiments is in no way an expression of freedom. Furthermore, non-Muslim global leaders like Putin must come forward to make the world understand the ethics of humanity and to define the boundary for freedom of expression. This would be beneficial for peace of the globe and harmony among diverse nations.
