Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Dr. Muhammad Al-Issa, the secretary-general of the Muslim World League (MWL), said that reprinting of blasphemous cartoons is a deliberate act to offend 1.8 billion Muslims in the world.

In an interview with MBC1 channel, he said: “We are sure that the French people are against the culture of hatred, contempt for others, especially leaders of religions and humanity in history. The behavior of some should not be generalized and any provocative behavior must be discarded,” he said.

Al-Issa emphasized that violence and terrorism in our religion is a crime and we are against it, irrespective of its justifications. “Every hater must know that Muslims are too great to be provoked by this disgraceful and despicable act. Muslims everywhere are fully aware of things and these things only increase their respect for their religious and patriotic values as well as for the rule of law,” he said.

“Any negative reaction to these actions will be misused by the provocateurs. Such practices of slandering, lying, and misleading public opinion must be met with a calm and wise manner,” he added.

The French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo republished controversial caricatures of the Prophet (PBUH) on Wednesday to mark the start of a trial more than five years after its offices were attacked by Muslim gunmen.

The attackers, who stormed the magazine’s Paris offices and a kosher supermarket, killing 17 people in January 2015, including 12 of the magazine's staff, are dead but their alleged accomplices are facing trial. Fourteen defendants, three of whom are being tried in absentia, face charges including “complicity” in terrorist crimes and “criminal terrorist association.”