French Satirical Newspaper Firebombed after Prophet Mohammed Announcement
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The offices of French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo have been destroyed by a petrol bomb, a day after it named the Prophet Mohammed as its “editor-in-chief” for this week’s issue.

The fiercely anti-clerical magazine said the move, which included renaming the publication “Sharia Hebdo”, was intended to "celebrate" the victory of Islamist party Ennhada in Tunisia's election.

Charlie Hedbo's editor-in-chief, known as Charb, told France Info radio: "We no longer have a newspaper. All our equipment has been destroyed or has melted."
No injuries have been reported[.]

A single Molotov cocktail was thrown at the offices of Charlie Hebdo in Paris’s 20th arrondissement at around 1am. The ensuing fire was rapidly put out, but a large amount of material in the office was destroyed, police said.

“We cannot, today, put together a paper,” said Charb. “But we will do everything possible to do one next week. Whatever happens, we’ll do it. There is no question of giving in,” he said, adding that the magazine is filing a legal complaint against persons unkown.

According to Europe 1 radio, police are searching for two suspects seen near the scene.

Charlie Hebdo's website has also been hacked with a message in English and Turkish cursing the magazine.

The message said: "You keep abusing Islam's almighty Prophet with disgusting and disgraceful cartoons using excuses of freedom of speech.

"Be God's curse upon you!" » | Henry Samuel, Paris | Wednesday, November 02, 2011-11-02

Related »

THE GUARDIAN: French magazine offices petrol-bombed after it prints Muhammad cartoon: Satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo is burned out by 1am petrol bomb attack on the day 'sharia' edition was to hit news stands » | Angelique Chrisafis in Nice | Wednesday, November 02, 2011

Incendie criminel à la rédaction de Charlie Hebdo
La rédaction de Charlie Hebdo, qui publie ce mercredi un numéro spécial après les élections en Tunisie, a été détruite dans la nuit de mardi à mercredi par un incendie criminel. «Deux individus auraient lancé un objet incendiaire», selon le chroniqueur P. Pelloux sur BFMTV.


Charlie Hebdo : Delanoë condamne l'acte de violence
Bertrand Delanoë a «condamné avec la plus grande fermeté» l’incendie criminel de la rédaction de Charlie Hebdo. « Si je peux aider Charlie Hebdo à retrouver des locaux pour pouvoir faire vivre son journal et sa liberté, je le ferai», a assuré le maire de Paris sur BFMTV et RMC.

LE FIGARO: Un incendie criminel ravage
le siège de Charlie Hebdo : Les locaux parisiens du journal satirique, qui sort aujourd'hui un numéro sur la charia, ont été attaqués au cocktail molotov. Son site Internet a par ailleurs été piraté. » | Par lefigaro.fr | mercredi 02 novembre 2011

REUTERS FRANCE: Les locaux de l'hebdomadaire Charlie Hebdo incendiés : PARIS - Un incendie s'est déclaré dans les locaux parisiens de l'hebdomadaire satirique Charlie Hebdo dans la nuit de mardi à mercredi sans faire de victimes, a déclaré à Reuters une source policière, alors que le magazine publie un numéro renommé "Charia Hebdo". ¶ Selon le directeur de la publication de Charlie Hebdo, Stéphane Charbonnier, l'incendie, qui a détruit la rédaction du journal, a été provoqué par un cocktail Molotov. » | Marine Pennetier et Matthias Blamont, édité par Patrick Vignal | mercredi 02 novembre 2011

Scharia-Ausgabe: Anschlag auf französisches Satire-Magazin
SPIEGEL ONLINE: Das französisches Satire-Magazin "Charlie Hebdo" ist Ziel eines Anschlags geworden: Unbekannte schleuderten einen Molotow-Cocktail in das Büro der Redaktion. Die Zeitschrift zeigt in einem Sonderheft zum Wahlerfolg der Islamisten in Tunesien den Propheten Mohammed auf dem Cover.

Paris - Für die Redaktion der satirischen Wochenzeitung "Charlie Hebdo" war es ein kleiner Scherz: Ihre Sonderausgabe zum Wahlsieg der islamistischen Partei al-Nahda in Tunesien hatte sie kurzerhand in "Scharia Hebdo" unbekannt, dazu gibt es auf dem Cover eine Darstellung des Propheten Mohammed. "100 Peitschenhiebe, wenn Sie sich nicht totgelacht haben", steht dazu neben Mohammed in einer Sprechblase. Der Prophet war zudem zu einer Art Chefredakteur ernannt worden. Man habe damit den Sieg der al-Nahda in Tunesien "feiern" wollen, hieß es. » | heb/ala/hen/dpa/AFP | Mittwoch 02. November 2011

Zur Fotogalerie »



My comment:

Newspaper columnists should be outraged by what happened in France today. But no; they'd rather appease. It's all rather pathetic. How many newspapers have had the guts to print the cartoons? How many newspapers have had the guts to print the front page of "Charia Hebdo"? As things stand, everyone is sh** scared of Muslims. At this rate, all the freedoms that our forefathers fought and died for will soon be gone – for ever! – © Mark

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More Death Threats as Newspaper Escalates Mohamed Cartoon Row
THE INDEPENDENT: Death threats have closed the website of a French satirical magazine fire-bombed this week after featuring cartoons of the Prophet Mohamed, but that did not deter the daily Libération from publishing new drawings yesterday in a show of solidarity.

The Belgian company which runs Charlie Hebdo's internet site pulled the plug yesterday after anonymous threats were emailed. The magazine has been the victim of an intensive cyber war waged from the Muslim world, especially Turkey, since it published an edition on Wednesday which it said was "guest-edited by Mohamed", and was littered with Mohamed cartoons.

Charlie Hebdo's Facebook page has been inundated with messages in English, French, Turkish and Arabic, rejoicing in the Molotov cocktail attack which destroyed the magazine's offices in Paris in the early hours of Wednesday. Messages, repeated over and over, include, "Go to the devil, Charlie Hebdo" and "Shame on Charlie Hebdo".

The centre-left Libération risked the wrath of Islamic extremists yesterday by publishing a special edition of Charlie Hebdo, including two new Mohamed cartoons. A four-page supplement, wrapped around the main newspaper, carried a joint Charlie Hebdo-Libération masthead and 17 cartoons drawn by the magazine's regular contributors.

One cartoon showed a bearded man's head on the body of a fire-breathing dragon. The caption asked, "Is this the real face of Mohamed?" Other drawings were self-mocking. One showed a cartoonist in the centre of a defensive ring of heavily armed soldiers. The cartoonist says, "I have got another hilarious gag." A soldier replies, "I was afraid of that." » | JOHN LICHFIELD | PARIS | Friday, November 04, 2011

Related articles here, here, and here

UK Shops to Receive Charlie Hebdo Magazine Despite Radical Cleric Calling It an "Act of War"

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Hundreds of copies of the latest edition of Charlie Hebdo 'survivors' magazine are expected to be brought to the UK when it is published on Wednesday despite claims by radical preacher Anjem Choudary it is "an act of war".

Hundreds of copies of the 'survivors' edition of the Charlie Hebdo satirical magazine are expected to go on sale in the UK when the magazine is published on Wednesday.

Radical preacher Anjem Choudray has criticised the magazine's controversial cartoon front cover of the Prophet Mohammed as "an act of war" and warned there will be "repercussions".

The latest edition is published a week after many of the Charlie Hebdo editorial team were massacred in an attack at their Paris office which saw terrorist brothers Said and Cherif Kouachi kill 12 people.

Five of Charlie Hebdo's cartoonists - including the editor - were killed in the attack.

Smiths News, the distribution arm of WH Smiths, and Menzies are expected to be purchasing up to a 2,000 copies to supply to stores in the Uk [sic].

Radical cleric Mr Choudary said "ridiculing" Mohammed is attacking his personality, and said these actions are "extremely serious", adding that if the "act of war" was to be tried in a Shariah Court it would carry capital punishment. » | Nicola Harley | Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Slain Charlie Hebdo Editor's Lover Releases Book Criticising Islamists' Treatment of Women

The partner of slain Charlie Hebdo editor Charb, Jeannette Bougrab

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Jeannette Bougrab, ex-lover of Charlie Hebdo editor Charb, claims her dead partner's entourage cut her out because her Right-wing credentials didn't fit his image as a Leftist "womanising bachelor"

Jeanette Bougrab, the ex-lover of slain Charlie Hebdo editor Charb, has released a book criticising Muslim countries’ treatment of women and Islamists who brandish the Prophet Mohammed's marriage to a child as sanctioning child brides.

Ms Bougrab, 41, a minister of Algerian origin in the previous administration of conservative president Nicolas Sarkozy, also hit back at the entourage of Charb, whose real name was Stéphane Charbonnier, saying they had excommunicated her after his death because she was a Right-winger.

In Maudites (Cursed), out on Wednesday, Ms Bougrab wrote about what she says is the misfortune of many girls born in Muslim countries, from Yemen to Pakistan. She paid tribute to a series of women including her mother, Zohra Trari, who was forcibly married at 13, abused, and today has terminal cancer.

“Is it blasphemy to say we should move away from the archaic practices of seventh century Arabia?,” she asked, referring to the Prophet Mohammed’s marriage to Aisha, adding that she has no intention of dropping her fight for secularism and women’s rights. Charlie Hebdo was targeted by Islamists after publishing front page cartoons depicting the Prophet. » | Henry Samuel, Paris | Friday, May 15, 2015

'Charlie Hebdo' Editor in Chief: 'A Drawing Has Never Killed Anyone'

SPIEGEL ONLINE INTERNATIONAL: The editor in chief of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo insists that their publication of Muhammad caricatures was no provocation, but a signal that free speech is alive and well in the country. Come what may, the magazine won't stop criticizing whatever it wants, he says. But his office remains under police protection.

The eye of the media hurricane is in a nondescript office building located between manicured tennis courts, a cultural center and the Paris ring road. A couple of advertising firms are located here, as is a department of the city police which is responsible for traffic tickets. The location is, above all else, discreet. There is no nameplate that refers to the weekly magazine Charlie Hebdo. The publication, which has around 25 employees, is listed on the intercom under a different name. The only difference to the normally quiet atmosphere is that a riot police van is parked outside the building.

It is here, in the far east of the French capital, that the publisher and editorial staff of Charlie Hebdo have worked since their former editorial offices were destroyed a year ago in an arson attack. Although no one claimed responsibility for the crime, it was apparently motivated by cartoons about Islam that the magazine had published in a special issue under the polemical title "Charia Hebdo," a reference to Islamic Sharia law.

Now the magazine and its editor in chief Stéphane Charbonnier, who is also a cartoonist himself, are back in the headlines. The satirical magazine has triggered a storm of indignation with its publication of cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad this week. Representatives of the French Council of Muslims, prominent imams and French government officials have all criticized the professional polemicists, who violate political, social and religious taboos on a weekly basis. France has stepped up security at its embassies and other institutions abroad as a precaution.

The US government also expressed concern at the publication of the cartoons. "We don't question the right of something like this to be published, we just question the judgment behind the decision to publish it," said White House spokesman Jay Carney. » | Thursday, September 20, 2012

Prophet Mohammed to 'Guest Edit' French Satirical Magazine
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: A satirical French magazine is to publish an edition 'edited' by the prophet Mohammed, in "honour" of Islam's influence on the Arab Spring.

"In order fittingly to celebrate the Islamist Ennahda's win in Tunisia and the NTC (National Transitional Council) president's promise that sharia would be the main source of law in Libya, Charlie Hebdo asked Mohammed to be guest editor," said a statement.

The weekly has been rebaptised Sharia Hebdo for the occasion, and will feature on its cover a picture of Mohammed saying: "100 lashes if you don't die of laughter!"

On the back page, a picture of Mohammed wearing a red nose is accompanied by the words: "Yes, Islam is compatible with humour." » | Monday, October 31, 2011

Quand Charlie Hebdo devient "Charia Hebdo"

leJDD: A la une de l'hebdomadaire cette semaine? Une nouvelle caricature de Mahomet. Le prophète devenant même le rédacteur en chef de ce numéro du journal satirique. "On a l'impression simplement de faire notre boulot comme d'habitude", a affirmé à l'AFP le directeur de la publication.

"On n'a pas l'impression d'avoir fait une provocation supplémentaire", assure à l'AFP le directeur de la publication de Charlie Hebdo, Charb. Car l'hebdomadaire satirique risque de faire parler de lui : il a décidé de mettre une nouvelle caricature de Mahomet en couverture. Le dessin représente le prophète visiblement joyeux avec ces mots : "100 coups de fouet, si vous n'êtes pas mort de rire!". Mais, le journal va plus loin en faisant de Mahomet le rédacteur en chef de cette édition rebaptisée "Charia Hebdo". Une manière de "fêter la victoire" du parti islamiste Ennahda en Tunisie. "Le prophète de l'islam ne s'est pas fait prier pour accepter et nous l'en remercions", précise l'hebdomadaire dans un communiqué publié lundi. » | A-Ch. D. (avec AFP) - leJDD.fr | lundi 31 octobre 2011

Huge Crowd of Muslim Protesters Picket Downing Street to Protest at Charlie Hebdo Cartoons

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: The protestors, many of whom were divided into groups of men and women and included children gathered just yards from the Cenotaph

At least 1,000 Muslim protesters gathered outside the gates of Downing Street to protest against the depictions of the Prophet Mohammed in Charlie Hebdo, the French satirical magazine.

The protestors, many of whom were divided into groups of men and women, gathered just yards from the Cenotaph which remembers Britain’s war dead, and blocked half of Whitehall as they demonstated.

It comes weeks after two terrorists attacked the offices of Charlie Hebdo, the Paris-based satirical magazine which had published images of the Prophet Muhammad, killing 12 staff and wounding 11 others.

The protest was organised by the Muslim Action Forum, which said that the Charlie Hebdo cartoons had helped “sow the seeds of hatred” and had damaged community relations.

One young child, who appeared to be under the age of 10, stood next to a placard displaying the message: “Charlie and the abuse factory”. A series of Muslim leaders addressed the crowd from a platform outside the Ministry of Defence, with the message “Be careful with Muhammad”. » | Christopher Hope, Chief Political Correspodnent | Sunday, February 08, 2015

Charlie Hebdo Accused of Hypocrisy as It Suspends Journalist after Death Threats over Her Articles Attacking Islam

Charlie Hebdo columnist Zineb El Rhazoui, 33, (center) has
been suspended by the satirical magazine

DAILY MAIL: Charlie Hebdo columnist Zineb El Rhazoui, 33, has been suspended / She has received death threats for her articles attacking Islamic extremism / Thousands have accused magazine of 'hypocrisy' for not supporting writer / Mrs El Rhazoui 'shocked' by decision which comes months after attack

Satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo has been accused of hypocrisy after it suspended a journalist who has received death threats for her articles attacking Islamic extremism.

Zineb El Rhazoui, 33, was called to a preliminary dismissal hearing to remind her of her 'obligations' towards the French weekly following 'numerous incidents'.

The French-Moroccan columnist accused her employers of trying to 'punish her' for speaking out about the direction of the magazine four months after the jihadist attack which left 12 dead.

'I am shocked and appalled that a management that has received so much support after the January attacks could show so little support for one of its employees, who is under pressure like everyone in the team and has faced threats,' she told Le Monde.

'My husband lost his job and had to leave Morocco because the jihadists revealed his workplace. I am under threat and having to live with friends or in a hotel and the management is thinking of firing me. Bravo Charlie.'

The move has prompted outrage on social media with thousands calling the decision 'absurd' and bewildering'. Read on and comment » | Jenny Awford for MailOnline | Saturday, May 16, 2015

Charlie Hebdo and Its Place in French Journalism

BBC: Charlie Hebdo is part of a venerable tradition in French journalism going back to the scandal sheets that denounced Marie-Antoinette in the run-up to the French Revolution.

The tradition combines left-wing radicalism with a provocative scurrility that often borders on the obscene.

Back in the 18th Century, the target was the royal family, and the rumour-mongers wrought havoc with tales - often illustrated - of sexual antics and corruption at the court at Versailles.

Nowadays there are new dragons to slay: politicians, the police, bankers and religion. Satire, rather than outright fabrication, is the weapon of choice.

But that same spirit of insolence that once took on the ancien regime - part ribaldry, part political self-promotion - is still very much on the scene.

Charlie Hebdo is a prime exponent.

Its decision to mock the Prophet Muhammad may be called courageously principled or dangerously irresponsible. What is undeniable is that it is entirely consistent with its historic raison d'etre [sic].

Urge to challenge

As a newspaper, Charlie Hebdo suffers from constant comparison with its better-known and more successful rival, Le Canard Enchaine [sic].

Both are animated by the same urge to challenge the powers-that-be.

But if Le Canard is all about scoops and unreported secrets, Charlie is both cruder and crueller - deploying a melange of cartoons and an often vicious polemical wit. » | Hugh Schofield | BBC News | Paris | Wednesday, November 02, 2011

Related links here and here

Charlie Hebdo Row: Cartoons Divide French Press
BBC: Many French newspapers have rushed to the defence of Charlie Hebdo after the weekly satirical paper published cartoons showing the Prophet Muhammad.

Others, however, accuse the paper of acting irresponsibly in the current context and run front-page headlines warning of the consequences.

'Sacred right'

A front-page editorial in the centre-left daily Le Monde says the "fundamental" principle of freedom of expression outweighs any other concerns, including religious ones.

The fact that religions may be subjected not just to criticism but also to ridicule has been "clear since Voltaire", it says.

"Whatever people may think of Charlie Hebdo's editorial choices... the only conceivable limit to its freedom is that which the courts might judge to be justified," the paper concludes.

The left-leaning Liberation takes a similar stand, asking "Blasphemy - a sacred right?" in its front-page headline.

"Appealing to the sense of responsibility of cartoonists, asking them to think twice before publishing, exhorting them to take into account the geopolitical context as if they were the foreign ministry spokesperson means getting caught up in a cycle whose first stage is self-censorship and the last, capitulation," an editorial by Nicolas Demorand warns.

An editorial in the regional daily L'Est Republicain insists that "the freedom of expression suffers no exception" other than the limits imposed by the law.

Ivan Drapeau in La Charente Libre ventures that Charlie Hebdo "has not broken the law, has not disturbed public order, has not incited to hatred or discrimination and has not undermined respect for people". » | Thursday, September 20, 2012

Iran Warns France over ‘Insulting’ Cartoons Depicting Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei

THE GUARDIAN: Publication by French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo ‘will not go without effective response’, says Tehran foreign minister

Ayatollah Khameni, Iran’s supreme leader, pictured in May 2021. Photograph: Zuma/Rex/Shutterstock
Iran has summoned the French ambassador over publication of caricatures of the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.

The weekly magazine published dozens of cartoons ridiculing the highest religious and political figure in the Islamic republic as part of a competition it launched in December in support of the protest movement that began in Iran last September.

Later on Wednesday, Iran’s foreign ministry said it had summoned the French ambassador, Nicolas Roche.

“France has no right to insult the sanctities of other Muslim countries and nations under the pretext of freedom of expression,” said a foreign ministry spokesperson, Nasser Kanani. “Iran is waiting for the French government’s explanation and compensatory action in condemning the unacceptable behaviour of the French publication.”

The foreign minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, tweeted: “The insulting and indecent act of a French publication in publishing cartoons against the religious and political authority will not go without an effective and decisive response.” » | AFP in Paris | Wednesday, January 4, 2023

Lire l'article suivant en français :

L’Iran ferme un institut français après la publication par « Charlie Hebdo » de caricatures : Pour son numéro spécial « 7 janvier », date anniversaire de l’attentat contre « Charlie Hebdo » en 2015, l’hebdomadaire satirique a choisi de soutenir les Iraniennes et les Iraniens et d’infliger une « raclée aux mollahs », selon les termes de la « une ». »

Charlie Hebdo Attacks: Editor's Lover to Miss Funeral after His Family Denies Relationship

The partner of slain Charlie Hebdo editor Charb, Jeanette Bougrab,
outside the Paris City Hall after the city made the weekly satirical
magazine 'Charlie Hebdo' an honorary citizen of Paris

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Jeannette Bougrab to stay away from Stéphane Charbonnier's funeral after his family deny they were in relationship

Jeannette Bougrab, who moved France with her tearful tribute to her lover Stéphane Charbonnier, the murdered editor of Charlie Hebdo known as Charb, is to stay away from his funeral after a row with his family.

Her decision follows remarks by Charb's brother, who denied the couple were in a relationship and demanded she stop speaking about him in the media.

Although Miss Bougrab, 41, a former junior minister in Nicolas Sarkozy's government, insisted she and Charb had been lovers for three years, Laurent Charbonnier made a statement on behalf of his brother's relatives.

The family, he said, "formally denies any committed relationship between Charb and Jeanette Bougrab". » | Henry Samuel, Paris | Monday, January 12, 2015

Charlie Hebdo's Wednesday Edition to Include Prophet Mohammed Cartoons

The previous issue of the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Wednesday's edition of Charlie Hebdo will 'naturally' contain cartoons of Prophet Mohammed, the magazine's lawyer has announced

The next edition of Charlie Hebdo, out on Wednesday with a million-copy print run, will "naturally" contain cartoons of Prophet Mohammed, along with jibes against politicians and religions across the board, said the stricken weekly's lawyer.

Richard Malka was among the first to call for the magazine to continue functioning after nine of its contributors, including famed cartoonists Cabu and Wolinski and its publishing director, Charb, were gunned down last Wednesday by Chérif and Saïd Kouachi.

When asked whether that meant more cartoons of Mohammed, which have been a regular feature in the magazine until last Wednesday's attack, he replied: "Naturally."

"We will not give in otherwise all this won't have meant anything," he told France Info radio on Monday, which broadcast from the magazine's heavily guarded temporary offices at Libération newspaper. » | Henry Samuel, Paris | Monday, January 12, 2015

Mahomet à la une de "Charlie Hebdo" ce mercredi

LE POINT: Trois millions de "Charlie Hebdo" seront dans les kiosques, l'imprimeur ayant reçu des avalanches de commandes, de France et de l'étranger.

La une du prochain numéro de Charlie Hebdo représentera Mahomet, une larme à l'oeil, tenant une pancarte "Je suis Charlie", sous le titre "Tout est pardonné", un dessin signé Luz. Le journal satirique a ainsi de nouveau dessiné le prophète de l'islam sur sa couverture, pour un numéro qui sera tiré à trois millions d'exemplaires contre 60 000 habituellement, malgré l'attentat qui a décimé sa rédaction mercredi.

Ce numéro comportera "évidemment", comme le journal l'a déjà fait, des dessins sur Mahomet, avait prévenu lundi l'avocat de l'hebdomadaire, Richard Malka. "On ne cédera rien, sinon tout ça n'aura pas eu de sens. L'état d'esprit 'Je suis Charlie', cela veut dire aussi le 'droit au blasphème', a martelé l'avocat. » | Source AFP | mardi 13 janvier 2015

Charlie Hebdo: Niger Protesters Set Churches On Fire

BBC AMERICA: At least three people have been killed and six churches attacked in Niger amid fresh protests against French magazine Charlie Hebdo's cartoon depicting the Prophet Muhammad.

Protests began outside Niamey's grand mosque and reportedly spread to other parts of the country, a day after five were killed in Niger's second city.

Niger's president condemned the violence and appealed for calm. Last week, Islamist gunmen killed 12 people at Charlie Hebdo's offices.

The cover of the magazine's latest edition, published after the attack, featured a cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad weeping while holding a sign saying "I am Charlie".

Seven million copies of the edition are being printed in view of extraordinary demand, distributors announced on Saturday. The magazine's print run before the attack was 60,000.

Many Muslims see any depiction of Islam's prophet as offensive. » | Saturday, January 17, 2015

Hundreds Join 'Je suis Muslim' Rally in Sydney

A protest against negative coverage of Islam and Charlie Hebdo's
caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad in Sydney

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Peaceful protesters march in Muslim enclave over magazine's depictions of the Prophet

Hundreds of Muslims rallied in Sydney on Friday night to protest negative media coverage of Islam and the French magazine Charlie Hebdo's depictions of the Prophet Muhammad.

Police said 14 people were moved on from the rally for breaching the peace. But no one was charged and the event was peaceful.

Some of the 800-strong demonstrators in the Muslim enclave of Lakemba held placards with the slogan "Je suis Muslim," French for "I am Muslim."

The slogan was a response to Charlie Hebdo's latest front cover that depicts a tearful Prophet Muhammad holding a sign saying "Je suis Charlie." The edition is the first since the Jan. 7 terrorist attack on the satirical publication's Paris office that left 12 dead. » | AP | Friday, January 23, 2015

Charlie Hebdo Attacks: Anti-Islam Parties Are Now On The March Across Europe

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Religion should be able to cope with being satirised

The French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo had no qualms about lampooning Islam. Why should it? In a free and liberally-inclined country like France it routinely took the mickey out of politicians and creeds whatever their source. But the editors knew they were running a risk by sending up Islam because militants will simply not accept that their religion be traduced in any way – and are prepared to kill or threaten to make their point.

Salman Rushdie discovered this more than 20 years ago after the publication of Satanic Verses brought a fatwa upon his head from Iran and forced him into hiding for years. Danish cartoonist Kurt Westergaard found out in 2005 when he was asked by his newspaper, Jyllands-Posten, to draw the prophet Muhammad "as you see him". The resulting cartoon was deemed blasphemous by hard-line Muslims around the world and provoked death threats. Ten Years ago, Dutch film maker Theo van Gogh, who made a controversial film about Islamic culture, was stabbed and shot dead in Amsterdam for insulting the Prophet.

Staff at Charlie Hebdo had already tasted this murderous backlash three years ago when their offices were firebombed when the magazine reprinted the Danish cartoons and named Mohammed editor-in-chief for a week’s edition. It also published a “halal” comic book on the life of the Prophet. To most Western sensibilities all of these publications were the warp and weft of what it means to live in a free country. Even if Christians or Jews object to their religions being satirised, they put up with it. But militant Islamists were not prepared to do so. Two gunmen in Paris have now exacted bloody vengeance in an act of violence that will send shock waves around Europe.

Anti-Islamist attitudes are beginning to move away from the far-Right extreme and more into the mainstream of popular discontent. In Germany since last October weekly marches have been held in a number of towns and cities staged by an organisation called Pegida which campaigns against what it sees as the "Islamisation" of Europe. Nearly 20,000 turned out to one rally in Dresden. The marches have been denounced by political parties and religious leaders across Germany but its supporters do not appear to be drawn from the usual neo-Nazi quarters. » | Philip Johnston | Wednesday, January 07, 2015

Facebook to Censor Images of Prophet Mohammed in Turkey Just Two Weeks after Mark Zuckerberg Wrote Passionate Message Defending Right to Free Speech

MAIL ONLINE: Facebook will ban pages in Turkey which 'insult Prophet Mohammed' / Comes weeks after Zuckerberg defended right to be offensive in post / Turkey also banned web access to cover of Charlie Hebdo magazine / Move is seen as the latest in crackdown on 'offending religious material'

Facebook has reportedly agreed to censor cartoons of Prophet Mohammed just two weeks after its founder defended the right to free speech in the wake of the Charlie Hebdo terror attacks.

The social network made the decision after Turkish authorities threatened to block the site entirely if it did not remove the images - some of which come from Charlie Hebdo magazine.

The dramatic about-face will be personally embarrassing for Zuckerberg, coming weeks after he defiantly said: '[Facebook] will never let one country or group dictate what people can share.' » | Chris Pleasance for MailOnline | Wednesday, January 28, 2015

'Those That Think Terrorism Has Nothing to Do with Islam Are Ignorant'

Former Charlie Hebdo journalist Zineb El Rhazoui, who was out of the country in January 2015 when Islamic militants stormed the offices of the satirical magazine in Paris and fatally shot 9 people. El Rhazoui, described as the 'most protected woman' in France, visited the New York City office of Women in the World and spoke with Emma-Kate Symons about her experiences and her incendiary new book titled 'Destroy Islamic Fascism.'Former Charlie Hebdo journalist Zineb El Rhazoui, who was out of the country in January 2015 when Islamic militants stormed the offices of the satirical magazine in Paris and fatally shot 12 of her colleagues. El Rhazoui, described as the 'most protected woman' in France, visited the New York City office of Women in the World and spoke with Emma-Kate Symons about her experiences and her incendiary new book titled 'Destroy Islamic Fascism.'Former Charlie Hebdo journalist Zineb El Rhazoui, who was out of the country in January 2015 when Islamic militants stormed the offices of the satirical magazine in Paris and fatally shot 12 of her colleagues. El Rhazoui, described as the 'most protected woman' in France, visited the New York City office of Women in the World and spoke with Emma-Kate Symons about her experiences and her incendiary new book titled 'Destroy Islamic Fascism.'

France Foils Charlie Hebdo Anniversary Beheading Plot

THE TELEGRAPH: France holds three suspected of plotting to kidnap and behead a military official to coincide with the January anniversary of the Charlie Hebdo killings

France has thwarted a plot to kidnap and behead a senior military official and post the act on the internet, the interior minister announced on Wednesday night.

The three suspects had planned to time the murder for next January to coincide with the anniversary of the Charlie Hebdo killings in which Islamist gunmen killed 12 at the satirical weekly. They had intended to film their act with a GoPro camera and post it online.

The plot bears similarities with the murder of Drummer Lee Rigby, the British soldier of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers hacked to death in London by Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale in May 2013. » | Henry Samuel, Paris | Thursday, July 16, 2015