Churches torched as Niger’s anti-Charlie Hebdo protest escalates

Smoke billows from a church set on fire by protesters during a demonstration against French weekly Charlie Hebdo’s publication of a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed in Niamey, on January 17, 2015
Smoke billows from a church set on fire by protesters during a demonstration against French weekly Charlie Hebdo’s publication of a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed in Niamey, on January 17, 2015 (AFP Photo / Boureima Hama) Trends Charlie Hebdo attack & fallout Tags Africa, Asia, France, Human rights, Middle East, Politics, Protest, Religion, Russia, Security Police fired tear gas as hundreds of Niger Muslims came out to yet again protest Charlie Hebdo’s satirical cartoons targeting Islam. Several Christian churches have been set on fire by rioting crowds in Niger, as the world sees a second day of rallies. Niger, a former French colony, has been gripped by Charlie Hebdo-fueled violence since Friday, when a protest rally in front of a French cultural center led to deadly clashes in which three protesters and a police officer were killed. On Saturday, Niger police again used tear gas against at least 1,000 aggressive young demonstrators in the capital, Niamey, who burned tires and pelted the security troops with stones. At least two police cars were burned out as the angry crowd retaliated against a decision to ban a march organized by local Muslim leaders.

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