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"Muhammad overflown by fundamentalists"

Updated: 08/Feb/2006 19:10

Dalil Boubakeur (L), Chairman of the CFCM, the French Muslim umbrella association and Philippe Douste-Blazy (C), French Foreign Minister

Photo: The French Foreign Ministry

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The French Muslim umbrella association CFCM launched a legal procedure on Tuesday to seize copies of Charlie Hebdo, a satirical magazine which published on Wednesday the 12 Muhammad caricatures initially printed in Denmark.

Islamic associations angered by the cartoons asked Paris county court (TGI) to prohibit the magazine but their request was rejected because of a flaw in its drafting.

Judge Jean-Claude Magendie said he believed the plaintiffs didn’t respect the “imperative dispositions” of the 1881 law on the press.

Charlie Hebdo is the second French newspaper to publish the twelve drawings after France Soir. The largest national papers Le Monde and Liberation printed only two cartoons and Le Figaro decided not to publish any.

Cartoon support

Charlie Hebdo’s main editor, Philippe Val, is one of the rare journalists who publicly supported the daily France Soir, which was widely criticised for publishing the cartoons and supposedly jeopardising France’s good image in Islamic countries.

It’s tough to be loved by idiots

Charlie Hebdo announced last week its own intention to publish the drawings, which appeared previously in Denmark, considering it a “basic right of the press.”

The newspaper has been fighting intense pressure but its editor said he was determined to go ahead with his decision.

Being a successful magazine, the new publication is bound to have a certain effect and give an occasion for many French readers to view the cartoons for the first time and judge for themselves whether they are offensive of not.

Charlie Hebdo is known for its hostility towards fundamentalists. It dedicated its last week’s front page to the Hamas, calling the group’s charter “the Mein Kampf of the Middle-East”.

Val said he sees the cartoon controversy as political rather than religious.

In its Wednesday issue, Charlie Hebdo decided not only to publish the Danish caricatures but to add new ones. The editor announced for the front page a provocative cartoon showing a desperate Muhammad saying “It’s tough to be loved by idiots” and "Muhammad overflown by fundamentalists."

A first organised demonstration against the Muhammad cartoons will take place in Paris next Saturday. The Union of Muslim associations of the Seine-Saint-Denis, an Islamic organisation from in the northern area of Paris, has called on Muslims to protest.

The Islamic umbrella association CFCM says it does not encourage any demonstration.

French officials divided

	Muslim leader deplores violent protests over cartoons
	Danish chief rabbi slams cartoon publication
	Muslim European group posts anti-Semitic cartoons
	Jewish dignitaries condemn Muhammad cartoon
	Palestinian gunmen storm EU offices

French government members and opposition MPs have been hesitating to react on the Muhammad caricature crisis. While defending the freedom of the press, many political figures are insinuating that newspapers should avoid publishing “upsetting” cartoons.

Aside from interior minister Nicolas Sarkozy who defended unconditionally the right to publish the drawings, the French government has avoided taking a clear stand.

“Fifteen years ago, we wouldn’t have reacted this way,” Jewish socialist MP Dominique Strauss-Kahn said. “These hesitations are a real setback. It’s a return to a theocratic-type regime.”

Former socialist minister Jean Glavany denounced the French leaders’ attitude. “They say “Yes, the freedom of expression exists, but it stops where respect for other beliefs begins.” This “but” sounds like an unacceptable concession to fundamentalists.”

MP Claude Goasguen from the leading UMP party denounced during a session at the National Assembly the government’s lack of reaction following attacks against French representations and interests in the Middle-East.

“Following the publication of cartoons portraying prophet Muhammad, French citizens have been threatened, French flags have been burnt, French centres were degraded.

The freedom of the press and the democratic French regime were the targets of these attacks,” Goasguen said, addressing Prime minister Dominique de Villepin.

Former minister Dominique Strauss-Kahn considers the cartoon affair is “a manipulation” against the EU. The socialist MP made an unexpected remark when interviewed by journalists on news station LCI on Sunday saying that the cartoon affair is “a manipulation that aims to get the EU out of the Middle-East process.”

“A sacred alliance between the United States and Saudi Arabia is revealing itself in this affair,” he said. Asked whether he was accusing the US of orchestrating the controversy, Dominique Strauss-Kahn responded that he wasn’t.

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