Protesters condemning the video

TOBA TEK SINGH, PAKISTAN (ANS) -- Christians across Pakistan are joining Muslims to protest against a controversial anti-Muslim video on YouTube.

According to a report received by the ASSIST News Service from our correspondent in Pakistan, Muslims are organizing protest rallies, demonstrations, seminars, conferences, press conferences and more to condemn the anti-Islam video.

ASSIST News Pakistani correspondent Ashfaq Fateh said that Christians in Pakistan are also upset about the video and in various areas have joined forces with Muslims to condemn the video.

ANS Correspondent Ashfaq Fateh addressing the rally

Fateh attended a demonstration in the city of Toba Tek Singh, and said he was allowed the opportunity by Muslims to speak to thousands of protesters on behalf of the Christian community.

Fateh said he told rally attendees it doesn’t advance the cause of any religion to promote negative material like that contained in the controversial video.

Fateh said he continued to say that Christians in Toba Tek Singh always organize activities that promote harmony, friendship, brotherhood and peace.

He added, “Whenever, there have been anti-Islam actions from anywhere in the world, Christians of Toba Tek Singh took the lead to condemn them, and express solidarity with Muslim brothers and sisters in Pakistan and around the world.”

Fateh told us Hajji Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, National Assembly member said, “The rally and conference is a message to anti-peace elements who are trying to destabilize world peace by doing evil … plans such as making caricatures and profane movie. The conference participants including Muslims and Christians are united to demand to put on trial the producers of the film, the actors and its financiers.”

Anwar Chaudhry continued, “Muslims in the world give high respect to all prophets and the last Prophet Muhammad … For the honor of our much-loved Prophet Muhammad … millions are ready to die and will not tolerate such hateful things.”

According to Fateh, Sahibzada Muneen Hussnan Saddique, Chief of Suni Thareek (an Islamic religious-political party) District Toba Tek Singh said, “The Muslims have never done such profane things about any prophet of other religions, however, for the last decade, profane material is being produced with regular intervals.”

He continued by urging people of other religions to join the Muslim world for the sake of lasting peace, prosperity and development and demanded that the UN and the USA take action against the creator of the video. He also demanded that the video be removed from the Internet.

Fateh said the Christian demonstrations and support against the video have been greatly appreciated by Muslims.

Jeremy Reynalds is Senior Correspondent for the ASSIST News Service, a freelance writer and also the founder and CEO of Joy Junction, New Mexico's largest emergency homeless shelter, http://www.joyjunction.org He has a master's degree in communication from the University of New Mexico, and a Ph.D. in intercultural education from Biola University in Los Angeles. His newest book is "Homeless in the City." Additional details on "Homeless in the City" are available at http://www.homelessinthecity.com. Reynalds lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. For more information contact: Jeremy Reynalds at jeremyreynalds@comcast.net.