Hezbollah Chief Says Jihadist Groups Greater Offense to Islam Than Cartoons

Hezbollah chief Hasan Nasrallah said that jihadists have been more damaging to Islam and the Muslim nation than Islam's enemies who insulted the prophet in films or cartoons.

MOSCOW, January 9 (Sputnik) — Jihadists distorting Islam are more insulting to the Prophet Mohammad than mocking cartoons, Hezbollah chief Hasan Nasrallah said Friday, following the deadly attack on French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.

"The behavior of the takfiri groups that claim to follow Islam have distorted Islam, the Quran and the Muslim nation more than Islam's enemies… who insulted the prophet in films… or drew cartoons of the prophet," Nasrallah said in a televised speech, as quoted by the Daily Star Lebanese newspaper.

Takfiris is the term usually used to describe Sunnis who accuse other Muslim religious groups of distorting Islam and apostasy. Islamic fundamentalism has gained momentum in the Middle East since the start of the civil war in Syria in 2011.

Nasrallah delivered his speech following the Wednesday attack on a French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo carried out by alleged Islamic extremists. As a result of the attack 12 people were killed and 11 were injured. The newspaper is known for publishing cartoons mocking religion, including Islam.

Hezbollah is a Lebanon-based Shia militant group established in 1980s. The primary goal of the group was military opposition to the Israeli occupation of Lebanon. The organization has remained hostile toward Israel until present. The United States and several other countries have declared Hezbollah to be a terrorist organization.