Niger protesters burn churches and turned to looting in the Niger capital city of Niamey. The act was in retaliation for France’s publication of its latest Charlie Hebdo cartoon, which featured a caricature of the prophet Mohammad.

The riot has resulted in five deaths so far. Protesters also set two police cars on fire and attacked a police station. The scene looked like a war zone, with police using tear gas on demonstrators, while rioters fought back with gasoline bombs and Molotov cocktails. They also built a makeshift barricade with burning tires.

When the smoked cleared, at least six churches were burned and looted. According to one protester, the act was revenge for the French satirical cartoons that insulted Mohammad. In his own words:

“They offended our Prophet Mohammad, that’s what we didn’t like. This is the reason why we have asked Muslims to come, so that we can explain this to them, but the state refused. That’s why we’re angry today.”

Demonstrations also took place outside of Niamey. In the town of Maradi, located about 375 miles east, Niger protesters there burned down two churches. Another church was also ransacked and set aflame in the town of Goure.

While Niger has a secular government, the majority of its 17 million people are Muslim. So far, the country has avoided major uprisings from radical Islamist militants that have plagued neighboring countries Mali and Nigeria. In recent years, though, there has been violent dissent among Niger’s hardline Muslim demographic.

The protest led to the arrest of four Muslim preachers. The French embassy also issued a warning cautioning its citizens not to go out into the streets.

Aside from the churches, damage also included a French cultural center and several residential homes occupied by Christian families.

On Jan. 16, wide-scale peaceful protests also took place in the streets of West Africa, including the countries of Senegal, Mali, and Mauritania, all former French colonies.

Niger protesters burning churches and attacking police outlines a fringe element in radical extremists willing to commit violence to prove their point. It also has the rest of the world on its heels and is a clear example of religious fanaticism at its worst.

[photo credit: Mike Blyth]