Insulting Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) ‘violation of religious freedom’, not artistic expression: Putin

Russian president says freedom of artistic expression has limits, shouldn’t transgress other people’s freedoms

President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin has said that insults directed towards Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) do not fall under the purview of artistic freedom but were in actuality a ‘violation of religious freedom’.

According to Russian news agency TASS, Putin in his yearly press conference said that insulting Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) violated the ‘sacred feelings’ of Muslims.

The news agency reported that Putin was also critical of the publication of cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in Charlie Hebdo, a French magazine.

The Russian president was of the view that such actions resulted in extremist backlash, adding that freedom of artistic expression had its limits and shouldn’t transgress other people’s freedoms.

The Russian president further said that Russians were used to giving respect to each other’s traditions as Russia had evolved as a multi-ethnic state.

Charlie Hebdo was the French magazine that published blasphemous sketches of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) in 2015, the consequence of which was widespread backlash from Muslims.

Following the publication, an attack on Charlie Hebdo’s office had led to the deaths of 12 people.

In 2020, the magazine published the sketches again on the trial of the 14 people accused of helping the 2015 attackers.

Moreover, a history teacher was murdered a month after the republication, after he showed the blasphemous sketches to his class.

The act of the teacher had been defended by French President Emmanuel Macron, which also brought on criticism from the Muslim world.