muslim protests | Latest developments

Bangladesh

Scores of people were injured Saturday in clashes in Bangladesh’s capital between police and hundreds of demonstrators, as protests continued in the Muslim world against a film produced in the United States that denigrates Islam’s Prophet Muhammad.

Police in Bangladesh fired tear gas and used batons Saturday to disperse the stone-throwing protesters, who were from about a dozen Islamic groups. The protesters burned several vehicles, including a police van, witnesses said.

Pakistan

In Pakistan, where more than 20 people died Friday in clashes in cities throughout the country, a Cabinet minister offered a $100,000 reward for the death of an American filmmaker. Railways Minister Ghulam Ahmad Balor told The Associated Press that he would pay the reward out of his own pocket. He urged the Taliban and al-Qaida to perform the “sacred duty” of helping locate and kill the filmmaker.

Turkey

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized the recent violent protests but said Western nations need to prevent insults to Islam. “No one claims freedom of expression when they restrict racism. The same restrictions that are imposed on racism must be displayed against Islamophobia,” Erdogan said Saturday. “Islamophobia is as dangerous as racism and is something that must not be tolerated.”

Nigeria

Thousands of people protested Saturday in Nigeria’s largest city, Kano. The crowd marched from a mosque to the palace of the Emir of Kano, the region’s top spiritual leader for Muslims.

Source: Associated Press