French weekly to publish anti-Islam cartoons

The Charlie Hebdo satirical weekly announced on Tuesday that its latest edition, due to appear on Wednesday, would contain several cartoons lampooning Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). It is hitting the stands against a backdrop of Muslims’ protests against a US-made movie insulting the prophet.

Over the past days, anti-US demonstrations over the sacrilegious film have been held across the Muslim and non-Muslim countries, with protesters storming the US embassies and torching the US flags.

Political and religious leaders in France have called on the weekly to avoid fueling the flames of tension.

French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said in a statement, “In the current climate, the prime minister wishes to stress his disapproval of all excess and calls on everyone to behave responsibly.”

The French Muslim Council (CFCM) accused Charlie Hebdo of triggering anti-Muslim sentiment.

“The CFCM is deeply attached to freedom of speech but considers that nothing can justify insult and inciting hatred,” the council said in a statement.

    “The CFCM calls on the Muslims of France not to give in to such provocation and urges them to express their indignation calmly and in lawful manner.”


Muslims in Paris, Marseille and other major cities have been invited through messages on Twitter and social networking sites to demonstrate on Saturday in condemnation of Charlie Hebdo’s latest move.

The French weekly’s Paris offices were firebombed last November after it published a caricature of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

France is home to the largest Muslim community in Western Europe.