Palestinian Salafists protest in Gaza over Charlie Hebdo cartoons

Dozens of Palestinians belonging to a radical Salafi group demonstrated in Gaza on Monday against the French newspaper Charlie Hebdo cartoons satirical of Prophet Muhammad of Islam.

The demonstrators, who waved the black flag of the Islamic State (IS) militant group, took to Gaza city's main streets and chanted slogans in support for the IS leader Abu Baker al-Baghdadi.

They marched until reaching the French Cultural Center in western Gaza city to protest against the publication of cartoons mocking the prophet.

Security forces of the Hamas-run Ministry of Interior prevented the protesters from approaching the building of the French center in Gaza.

Eyad al-Bozom, spokesman for the ministry, said in an emailed press statement that the demonstrators are young men belonging to a Salafi group.

"We assure that we are not against the protest as long as it is organized in the framework of the freedom of expression and respects the law," said al-Bozom. Enditem