Thousands of people demonstrated Friday in Mali’s capital, Bamako, to protest against blasphemy of Islam after a video went viral showing a man making comments insulting the religion and stepping on a Quran.
At the demonstration, called by the High Islamic Council of Mali (HCIM), participants denounced «blasphemy in all its forms» in Mali and around the world, and condemned «the audacious act» of the video spread on social networks.
«No to blasphemy», «don’t touch my religion», «the Koran is untouchable» are some of the slogans shouted by the protesters, as reported by the daily Kati 24.
The video that has raised controversy among the Muslim community in Mali begins with «Hotep», a greeting for the followers of Kemetism, a religion born recently and inspired by ancient Egypt – which is also considered by some as a sect – that defends African culture against monotheistic religions such as Islam or Christianity.
The protagonist of the video records himself in a small tent when he begins to insult the Koran and shortly after begins to trample the book, according to RFI radio station.
Following the broadcast of the content, the Ministry of Religious Affairs of Mali has condemned the acts and assured that its author would be brought to justice in the country.
Likewise, the leader of the Malian military junta, Assimi Goita, condemned «with the utmost rigor the blasphemies» uttered by the man, expressing his solidarity and that of the government with the Muslim community.
He also instructed the Minister of Justice and Human Rights to «do everything possible» to apprehend «the author of these blasphemies against Islam, as well as his accomplices, so that they may answer for their actions», reported ‘L’Indipendant’.
