KHARTOUM, Sudan — Sudan has suspended publication of a newspaper after an essay that allegedly questioned the parentage of the Prophet Mohammed triggered demonstrations.

Crowds of protesters this week demanded the death of Mohamed Taha Mohamed Ahmed, editor of the Muslim newspaper al-Wifaq, for his essay.

The nation’s Press Council responded by suspending the newspaper’s publication for three days, beginning Friday, the BBC reported.

Ahmed, who has long-standing ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, has answered by saying his article was intended to dispute the very claims he is publicly accused of making. He also said the rallies were politically driven.

“This has been from the very start a political campaign against me. I have been politically active for more than 30 years and there are people who want to damage me,” he said.