Five killed as 45 churches torched in Charlie Hebdo protests in Niger

Forty-five churches have been torched in Niger over the use of a Prophet Mohammed cartoon on the cover of Charlie Hebdo magazine. At least five people died and 128 were injured in the capital Niamey during protests against the image on the front of the satirical publication. The controversial magazine ran a caricature showing the prophet under the headline “All is forgiven” just days after an Islamist attack on its offices in Paris that left 12 people dead.

Every time we draw a cartoon of Mohammed, every time we draw a cartoon of prophets, every time we draw a cartoon of God, we defend the freedom of religion.

Gerard Biard, Charlie Hebdo chief editor

The physical depiction of Mohammed is considered blasphemous by many Muslims. Several hundred thousand people also protested in the Chechen capital Grozny at a state-organised rally. Meanwhile, hundreds of people in Afghanistan demonstrated against the magazine’s actions by burning a French flag and calling for the government to cut diplomatic relations with France.

Niger Africa