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Protests denouncing France have been held in several cities in Somalia, including the capital, Mogadishu, in response to President Emmanuel Macron defence of cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad.
Demonstrators in the capital blocked traffic chanting slogans and burning effigies.
Somalis step on a French flag during a protest against the publications of a cartoon of Prophet Mohammad in France and French President Emmanuel Macron's comments, along the streets of Mogadishu, Somalia October 28, 2020. REUTERS/Feisal Omar TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY pic.twitter.com/tmKnlxrqy1
— feisal omar (@feisalomar) October 28, 2020
Protester Hilal Abudrahman told AFP news agency it was the first demonstration he had taken part in.
He added that he would be “ashamed” of himself if he did not show his “sentiments” against Mr Macron, who “supported this insult against our Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him”.
Another protester, Ahmed Sheik Mire, said Mr Macron had provoked Muslims and called for the devout “to show their anger with France”.
Muslims across the world have reacted furiously to Mr Macron’s remarks that came after the beheading of schoolteacher Samuel Paty, who had shown his pupils cartoons of Prophet Muhammad, depictions that are seen as offensive by many Muslims.
