HUNDREDS of people gathered outside Bradford City Hall on Saturday night to hear MP George Galloway and other speakers at a freedom of speech demonstration.

The rally was organised after the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo published a cartoon of the prophet Muhammad on its front cover following the attack on its Paris office by two Islamic terrorists in which 12 people were shot dead. Organisers say Muslims are now being victimised and green ribbons were handed out before the multi-faith protest began to show a solidarity of peace.

Alongside Bradford West Respect MP Mr Galloway were speakers from across faiths in Bradford who spoke and read out poems, in both French and English.

From the steps of City Hall, Mr Galloway said: “I am here to defend the honour of Muslims, Islams and Muhammad.

“These are not cartoons, these are obscene insults to the prophet Muhammad.

“The backlash against Muslims is under way in France and the UK.

“It seems there are limits to freedom of speech in France. That’s hypocrisy, not democracy.

“For the sake of unity in our society, we have to demand from our Government the protection of our prophets.”

Councillor Imran Hussain, deputy leader of Labour-run Bradford Council, also spoke during the demonstration, attended by about 300 people in freezing conditions.

He said: “There is a big debate around freedom of speech. It is a fundamental right.

“Let’s have freedom of speech, not freedom to openly insult.

“I was deeply insulted, deeply offended by the publication of Charlie Hebdo, in particular its depiction of the Holy Prophet Muhammad.

“There has been double standards and hypocrisy here.”

West Yorkshire Police officers monitored the protest which was trouble-free.