Charlie Hebdo’s publishers have stated that the Prophet Muhammad is going to be on the front cover of this week’s issue, which will be coming out today. In a news conference on Tuesday that was picked up by many different media sources, including The New York Times, the magazine cover will show Muhammad carrying a sign which reads, “I Am Charlie” and he will be standing underneath the headline that states, “All is Forgiven.”
The staff of the satirical publication said at their press conference in Paris that they decided to print up this edition after the terror attack on their company. They stated that the decision was filled with with a lot of joy and also much pain. The Editor-in-Chief, Gerard Biard, explained that the Prophet cartoon, which had been picked as the cover, was done by artist Renald Luzier. He is better known by his pen name “Luz,” and Biard wants the world to know that the cover is in no way to be taken as Muhammad giving any type of forgiveness.
Biard declared that it is those at Charlie Hebdo who are showing they are attempting to forgive, not Muhammad. However, Biard explained he has not yet pardoned the terrorists. He said that the entire team asked themselves, how could they still be the same? How could they possibly keep laughing and do a front cover over an event that had struck them so hard?
Cartoonist Luz stated that Charlie Hebdo staff discussed ideas for the cover for days and finally arrived at the idea as a group. He said that the extremists who attacked them were trying to encourage hate, but he preferred to show Prophet Muhammad in an understanding fashion. He also thinks that drawing is an art form that can be used as a way to make the complex world just a bit simpler.
He added that if there happened to be anything good that could come out of such a horrible experience, it would be that the Parisian people appeared to be returning to the streets of Paris to express how they truly feel, and it has been way too long since such an event occurred.
Biard declared that he would really like to be able to tell the entire world that there will continue to be a future for Charlie Hebdo but he said he was unable to do that just yet. He stated that he just did not know what was coming in the months ahead but hopefully there would not be any disruptions in the magazine’s publication.
Biard also wanted to give his thanks to the many institutions, unknown individuals and all who have been there for Charlie. The newest edition, which is best known for its sardonic attacks on numerous religions and especially Islam, will also have numerous other religions and several cartoons centering on the Prophet Muhammad.
One Charlie Hebdo attorney stated that the company refused to back down. If they did, he stated, then none of what had happened would have any meaning. If the company holds up the banner that reads “I am Charlie,” he indicated, this shows they are demanding the right to blaspheme and that they have the right to make fun of any religion they choose.
The printers also say that they plan on printing over three million copies of the first issue since the terror attack happened. Charlie Hebdo usually prints about 60,000 copies every week. Various news agencies around the world, including The New York Times, reported that huge numbers of customers all over were putting in orders, which led to the increase in copies.
A two-page spread in this Wednesday’s publication stated that last Sunday, more people turned out to show their respect and to back the magazine than attend regular church services. The post-attack issue is being created in six languages, which include French, Turkish and Italian. These three will be only in the printed version. The English, Arabic and Spanish will only be available online. Numerous Western television outlets which have shown a reproduction of the front cover also ended up issuing a warning to viewers before airing it.
Egypt’s Grand Mufti cautioned the French satirical magazine about publishing a new parody of the Prophet Mohammad, stating it was racist and that it would cause hatred and also upset Muslims all over the world. He stated that the edition would do nothing but create a brand new movement of hatred in French and Western societies in general and said that what the newspaper is doing is not helping anyone co-exist peacefully. He also said that the new edition of Charlie Hebdo would bring nothing but unnecessary negativity against Muslims all over the world.
It was just last week when Cherif and Said Kouachi, the men thought responsible for the attack, murdered 12 people in the magazine’s office. Charlie Hebdo has traditionally satirized Islam. However, the magazine also lambastes most major religions as well as prominent political leaders.
The French police killed the brothers on Friday, which was the same day that a kosher supermarket was attacked. The gunman in that case was killed by police. He had murdered a French policewoman the day prior to the supermarket attack.
By Michelle Larson
Photo by Birgit Speulman - Flickr License