French Magazine to Publish Mohammed Cartoon Bio

Kudos to Charlie Hebdo [1] for not submitting to Muslim intimidation. The Paris humor magazine’s office was firebombed in November 2011 for causing Muslims to become miffed with an issue poking fun at Mohammed. (See my report th.org/articles/2011/11/02/france-magazine-about-to-publish-mohammed-satire-is-firebombed">France: Magazine about to Publish Mohammed Satire Is Firebombed.)

Nevertheless, the publication is soldiering on, committing free speech in an increasingly hostile environment, due to Muslim immigration.

Below, Charlie Hebdo publisher Charb stood in front of his magazine’s firebombed office in 2011.

Incidentally, there is already a fine comic of the prophet’s life, Mohammed, Believe It or Else! [2], but another addition to the genre is always welcome!

French magazine Charlie Hebdo to publish comic of Mohammed’s life [3], Daily Telegraph, December 31, 2012

The weekly magazine has previously published cartoons featuring Mohammed, sparking violent protests by conservative Muslims.

The special edition comic book depiction of Mohammed’s life is due to be published on Wednesday, according to AFP.

Charlie Hebdo’s publisher said it would be educational and was an attempt to defend free speech.

“It is a biography authorised by Islam since it was edited by Muslims,” said the publisher, Stephane Charbonnier, who is known as Charb.

“I don’t think higher Muslims could find anything inappropriate.”

The biography was put together by a Franco-Tunisian researcher known only as Zineb, he said.

Charb said the idea came to him in 2006 when a Danish paper printed cartoons of Mohammed, which Charlie Hebdo later reprinted, angering Muslims.

“Before having a laugh about a character, it is better to know him,” he told AFP.

In 2011, the offices of Charlie Hebdo were firebombed when the magazine published cartoons featuring Mohammed.