Paris Publication Burned Down as Prophet Muhammad Issue is Released
The offices of Charlie Hebdo, a satirical magazine in Paris, have burned down early Wednesday morning; the same day an issue with figures depicting the Prophet Muhammad was set to hit newsstands.
The magazine’s publication director who was identified by CNN affiliate BFM-TV as “Charb” expressed outrage over the destruction of the office.
"People acted violently over a magazine where they don't even know the content. This is what is most deviant and dumb," he said.
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Paris police confirmed the fire started around 1 a.m. and was extinguished about two hours later. They could not confirm if the fire was started by Molotov cocktails as some reports had suggested. An investigation is underway.
Tensions have been high recently in France due to the French government’s ban concerning Islamic veils and face coverings. The ban came amid claims that they were both a security risk and also degrading to women.
Still, Muslims are upset because according to the Koran any depiction of the Prophet Muhammad is strictly forbidden. Yet officials in France are stipulating that they will defend freedom of speech in their country. French Interior Minister Claude Gueant said that "the freedom of the press is a sacred freedom for French people.”
This recent incident rekindles memories when cartoonists from Denmark were threatened due to the publication of the Prophet Muhammad as a cartoon character. The Danish embassy in Pakistan was subsequently bombed by the Taliban in reported retaliation for the cartoon.
Bertrand Delanoe, the mayor of Paris lent his sympathies to the publication: "We may not agree with this week's edition of Charlie Hebdo, but we are in a society that needs freedom of expression, and any violence that undermines this freedom... is absolutely unacceptable," he said on BFM-TV.
But the question still remains how one draws the line between freedom of expression and respect and tolerance for religion.
"I don't think Islam is a taboo subject, I think we have the right to talk about anything," Charb said.
The website of the publication was also hacked by “Cyber Warrior TIM” and a message left on the redirect page read, “You keep abusing Islam's almighty Prophet with disgusting and disgraceful cartoons using excuses of freedom of speech."
The hacker did not claim responsibility for the physical destruction of the property.
