Egypt's Coptic Pope Rejects 'Insulting' New Charlie Cartoon
Egypt's Coptic Pope Tawadros II rejected as "insulting" the publication of new Prophet Mohammed cartoons on Wednesday by French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo that was attacked by jihadists last week.
The first issue of Charlie Hebdo to be published since the attack in Paris that decimated its staff and sent shockwaves around the world was sold out within minutes at kiosks across France.
The issue features a cartoon of a tearful Prophet Mohammed on its cover, holding a "Je Suis Charlie" sign under the headline "All is forgiven".
"This insult must be rejected at all levels," the pope said at a press conference.
"I reject any personal insults, and when it concerns religions, it is neither humane, moral or socially acceptable, and it does not help world peace."
Coptic Christians account for about 10 percent of the population of predominantly Sunni Muslim Egypt.
The community faced several attacks by Islamists shortly after the army ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July 2013.
Al-Azhar, Sunni Islam's most prestigious seat of learning, earlier Wednesday also denounced the new Charlie Hebdo edition but urged Muslims to ignore it.
Source: Agence France Presse
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