Charlie Hebdo publishes anti-Muhammad cartoon in French magazine, fuels more protests, violence
French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said on Wednesday anyone offended by cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed published in the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo could take the matter to the courts.
Muhammad cartoon in French magazine
But he emphasized France’s tradition of free speech. “We are in a country where freedom of expression is guaranteed, including the freedom to caricature,” he said on RTL radio.
“If people really feel offended in their beliefs and think there has been an infringement of the law — and we are in a state where laws must be totally respected — they can go to court,” Mr Ayrault said.
The cover of Charlie Hebdo shows a Muslim man in a wheelchair being pushed by an Orthodox Jew under the title “Intouchables 2”, referring to a French film about a poor black man who helps an aristocratic quadriplegic.
France is to close some of its embassies on Friday, in case of a backlash against the publication of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed.
It has also issued a travel warning to French people in the Muslim world to exercise “the greatest vigilance” and avoid all public gatherings and “sensitive buildings”.
At least 30 people have died so far in demonstrations citing a YouTube video tied to a film called “Innocence of Muslims” film in more than 20 countries.
Pakistan has declared Friday a national holiday in honour of the Prophet as a response against the film.
The last time the French magazine stoked controversy over Islamic issues its Paris offices were fire-bombed.
That attack last year was blamed on an edition “guest-edited” by the Prophet Mohammed that it called Sharia Hebdo.
Charlie Hebdo’s latest move was greeted with immediate calls from political and religious leaders for the media to act responsibly and avoid inflaming the current situation.
Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault issued a statement expressing his “disapproval of all excesses”.
Charlie Hebdo Muhammad insult which provoked riots and protests previously
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