The editor of the satirical French magazine Charlie Hebdo said he defends the right to publish controversial religious cartoons, citing freedom of speech and religion, after the satirical weekly's publication of a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed sparked violent clashes, including deaths, in some Muslim countries.
The cartoon image of Mohammed outraged many in the Muslim world, triggering demonstrations that turned violent in Algeria, Niger and Pakistan.
In Niger 10 people were killed in violent protests against the French publication's cartoon depicting the prophet. Police fired tear gas at crowds of stone-throwing Muslim youths who set fire to churches and looted shops in the capital Niamey.
President Mahamadou Issoufou joined the unity march in Paris last weekend alongside French President Francois Hollande.
Black smoke billows from tyres set on fire in Niamey, after police fired tear gas to disperse a demonstrationBoureima Hama/AFPSmoke billows from a church in Niamey. At least two churches were torched in Niger's capitalBoureima Hama/AFPA man carries a girl in Niamey, Niger, after she inhaled tear gas during a demonstration against French weekly Charlie Hebdo's publication of a cartoon of the Prophet MohammedBoureima Hama/AFPA man holds the sign of Le Toulousain, a French bar in Niamey, after it was burned down by demonstrators protesting against Charlie HebdoBoureima Hama/AFPPresident of Niger Mahamadou Issoufou is pictured with French President Francois Hollande before attending the unity march in Paris on January 11Pascal Rossignol/Reuters
Protesters in many cities in Pakistan burned the French flag and effigies of the Francoi Hollande, calling for the banning of the weekly satirical magazine. One protest paid tribute to the brothers who attacked the magazine's offices.
The biggest protest took place in the eastern city of Lahore, where over 10,000 supporters of the hard-line Jamaat-ud-Dawa organisation chanted "Down with Charlie Hebdo" and "Death to blasphemers".
A group gathered in front of the Lahore Press Club to pay homage to the Kouachi brothers who attacked the Charlie Hebdo offices in Paris, killing 12 people.
A supporter of Jamaat-e-Islami holds a sign referencing the Kouachi brothers in IslamabadZohra Bensemra/ReutersProtesters burn a poster featuring portrait of French President Francois Hollande in Quetta, PakistanBanaras Khan/AFPA man holds a sign during a protest against satirical French weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo in LahoreMani Rana/ReutersSupporters of religious groups protest against Charlie Hebdo in Lahore, PakistanMohsin Raza/ReutersSupporters of Jamaat-e-Islami hold placards during a protest against Charlie Hebdo in Islamabad, PakistanZohra Bensemra/ReutersProtesters in Islamabad burn an effigy representing Charlie Hebdo cartoonistsFarooq Naeem/AFP
Tens of thousands of people gathered in the Russian breakaway state of Chechnya to rally against Charlie Hebdo.
They marched through the streets of Grozny, the capital of the predominantly Muslim region.
A huge rally is held in Grozny, Chechnya, to protests against Charlie Hebdo's cartoons of the prophetEduard Korniyenko/ReutersMen in Grozny, Chechnya, attend a rally to protest against satirical cartoons of the prophet MohammedEduard Korniyenko/Reuters
Afghans burned the French flag as they chanted "Death to France" during a rally against the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.
Protesters in Jalalabad demanded the French Embassy in Kabul be shut down and that the French government apologise to Muslims.
Students from Nangarhar University in in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, chant slogans during a demonstration against Charlie HebdoParwiz/Reuters
French President Francois Hollande said anti-Charlie Hebdo protesters in other countries do not understand France's attachment to freedom of speech.
"We've supported these countries in the fight against terrorism," Hollande said. "I still want to express my solidarity (towards them), but at the same time France has principles and values, in particular freedom of expression."
Yemeni Muslims protest outside the French embassy in Sana'aMohammed Huwais/AFPMuslims in Khartoum, Sudan, call for France to apologise after Charlie Hebdo featured a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed on its coverMohamed Nureldin Abdallah/ReutersUniversity students in Somalia's capital Mogadishu hold placards during a demonstration against satirical French weekly Charlie HebdoFeisal Omar/ReutersDemonstrators in Amman, Jordan, try to help a man who fainted during a protest against Charlie HebdoMuhammad Hamed/ReutersPalestinians in Gaza City walk past the French Cultural Centre that was daubed with graffiti reading: "You will go to hell, French journalists" and "Everything but the Prophet"Mahmud Hams/AFPFrench Muslim youths in Paris hold a Islamic flag (top) and a banner reading "Do not touch my prophet, anything but the Messenger of Allah"Pascal Rossignol/Reuters
