NOUAKCHOTT – The man stirred up uproar last month after writing an article deemed critical of the prophet posted it on his Facebook page.
Riots rocked Mauritania’s second largest city of Nouadhibou late Friday following reports of the extradition of a man accused of offending Islam’s prophet Muhammad to France.
Mohamed al-Sheikh Ould Mohamed stirred up uproar last month after writing an article deemed critical of the prophet posted it on his Facebook page.
The article was republished by a leftist newspaper, provoking the ire of several parties in the country, leading to his arrest by security forces.
He was jailed 15 days pending investigation into the allegations.
But on Friday, reports were circulated that the man was extradited to France, prompting many Mauritanians to take to the streets in protest.
The demonstrations turned into violence, which left three cars torched and several shops looted.
Last week, thousands of angry Mauritanians tried to break into a courthouse in Nouadhibou to pressure judges to speed up the trial of the suspect.
By Sidi Ould Abdel-Malek
