Over 1,000 people march in solidarity with Prophet Mohammad

AMMAN — Around 1,500 protesters took to the streets of Amman on Friday in protest against a new cartoon depicting Prophet Mohammad published by French weekly satirical Charlie Hebdo. 

Minor friction took place between demonstrators and security forces as some protesters tried to continue the march, which started from downtown Amman's Al Husseini Mosque, and headed to the French embassy. 

Four protesters were detained following the incident but were later released.

Activists, Muslim Brotherhood members and leaders as well as members of popular youth movements participated in the march.

A source at the Public Security Department estimated the number of demonstrators at 1,000.

The cover-page cartoon of Prophet Mohammad carried by Charlie Hebdo last Wednesday, in its first edition since an attack on its Paris offices claimed by Al Qaeda killed 12 people on January 7, has sparked similar protests across the Muslim world, according to Agence France-Presse. 

Before the beginning of the demonstration, protesters attended the Friday sermon, which also addressed the publication of the cartoon, deemed offensive to the prophet, and performed the Friday prayer. 

In the march, men, women and children chanted slogans expressing solidarity with Prophet Mohammad and held placards condemning the step taken by Charlie Hebdo. 

Ali Abul Sukkar, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, said the march showed that all segments of Jordanian society were going out for the sake of Prophet Mohammad. 

"We want to send a message through such events to mockers of the nation and its Prophet Mohammad. They think that such an act will pass without a reaction," he told The Jordan Times during the march.  

Ahmad Abu Zaid, one of the demonstrators, said God protected Prophet Mohammad and the duty of Muslims is to defend him. 

"We wanted to send a message to the world that if anyone tries to offend the prophet, we are going to stand against them," he added. 

Another demonstrator who did not give his name said Prophet Mohammad is a red line and Muslims would sacrifice everything for his sake.

Hammam Saeed, the overall leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, said the Muslim nation will not accept such assaults against the prophet. 

"We want the French government to enact a law to prevent such assaults, and if it does not do so, that means it is complicit in such assaults," he added. 

Saeed said a campaign must be launched to boycott all French products in response to this act.