Charlie Hebdo

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English translation: "100 lashes if you're not dead with laughter!"
We have the impression that it’s officially allowed for Charlie Hebdo to attack the Catholic far-right but we cannot poke fun at fundamental Islamists,”
Charlie Hebdo editor Stephane Charbonnier, [1]

Charlie Hebdo is a French satirical, nonconformist newspaper founded in 1960. The paper is generally left-wing, even by French standards (it was even farther-left in the past). Furthermore, the paper is anarchist[2] and opposed to religion, especially Islam.[3]

Contents

[edit] Accusations of antisemitism

Controversy arose when a cartoonist working for the magazine named Siné wrote an article about the possible marriage of Jean Sarkozy (son of President Nicolas Sarkozy), that could be interpreted as antisemitic. [4] Publisher Philippe Val fired Siné (then aged 80), who soon retaliated by creating his own newspaper, Siné Hebdo (now discontinued).

[edit] Islam

The paper strongly opposes Islamism, classing it as a totalitarian threat alongside fascism, Nazism and Stalinism.[5] They reprinted the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons leading to criticism. [6] In November 2011 the paper responded to the victory of an Islamist party in Tunisia by jokingly announcing that its next issue would be edited by Muhammad; the cover for this issue featured a caricature of Muhammad and the usual title defaced with a banner reading Charia Hebdo. The day after the announcement the offices of the newspaper were destroyed in a petrol bomb attack.[7]

In September 2012 the magazine decided to feature several satirical drawings of Muhammad highlighting the Islamic overreaction to Innocence of Muslims[8]. The French government immediately closed several embassies and schools world wide, concerned about retaliation. [9] Through Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, the French government reinforced the right of the French media to free speech, but seemed largely frustrated that this particular publication was simply "throwing oil on the fire" in an attempt to gain publicity. Echoing Fabius, the White House questioned the judgment behind releasing these cartoons[10].

Reaction from other French media has been mixed:-

  1. Le Monde argues that the fundamental right of free expression is paramount, Liberation claims self censorship is the first step on a path that leads to capitulation, other, mainly left-leaning French newspapers take a similar stance.
  2. Figaro opposes what it calls silly provocation, Sud Ouest calls the publication playing with fire, several mainly right-leaning newspapers are also critical.

This publication has reignited the discussion of limits to freedom of expression, and responsibility of the press. [11][12]

[edit] See also

[edit] Footnotes

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