Thousands of protesters in Dakar against the caricature of Charlie Hebdo

Thousands of people, including the Senegalese Prime Minister Abdullah Mahammed Boun Dionne took part Saturday afternoon in Dakar at a demonstration against the publication of cartoons of the Prophet Sidna Mohammed by the French newspaper Charlie Hebdo.

The event, held in place of the Obelisk, on the initiative of Islamic associations and civil society, was attended by several other Senegalese politicians, including ministers and opposition leaders, as well as representatives of different religious families.

“I’m not Charlie. I am a Muslim”, “Freedom of expression is not the freedom to insult”, “Do not touch my prophet,” could be read on the placards brandished by the participants in this demonstration, during which a French flag was burned.

Senegalese Interior Ministry had banned publication of the last issue of Charlie Hebdo, and the French newspaper Libération featuring caricatures of the Prophet.