Attack on French satirical weekly sparks solidarity

By Ralf E Krueger Eds; epa photos Nov 2, 2011, 14:10 GMT

Paris - French politicians and media representatives on Wednesday came out in support of Charlie Hebdo, a satirical magazine that suffered a firebomb attack after making fun of Islamic fundamentalism.

Independently of whether the special issue entitled Sharia Hebdo - in reference to Islamic law - was acceptable or not, violence against the media was out of the question, politicians across the spectrum agreed.

The attack early Wednesday was carried out by 'two or three idiots who do not represent the Muslim community,' a Charlie Hebdo representative who identified himself as Luz said on television.

'I'm going to show the blockheads that they are isolated,' he vowed. The special issue which is thought to have provoked the attack dealt with the victory of the Islamist party Ennadha in Tunisia's recent elections.

It was 'guest edited' by an imaginary character, a bearded and turbaned man named Mohammed, whose caricature was shown on the front page.

The reader will get '100 lashes of the whip, if you don't fall over dead from laughing,' Mohammed promises.

The special issue was sold out by 8 am (7 am GMT), kiosk owners said.

But shortly before copies began to be distributed, a firebomb destroyed the premises of Charlie Hebdo, leaving behind charred computers and copy machines.

Sacks filled with discarded files and other office materials could later be seen in front of the blackened facade.

The website of Charlie Hebdo was brought down by hackers. The magazine's editor-in-chief, who uses the pseudonym Charb, deplored the intolerance of the attackers, who may have seen the cover of the special issue on the internet the evening before.

Paris' Socialist mayor Bertrand Delanoe spoke of an unacceptable blow to the freedom of expression and promised to help the magazine find new premises.

The leftist daily Liberation also came to the rescue, pledging to help Charlie Hebdo publish its next issue under its roof.

French Prime Minister Francois Fillon expressed his dismay at the attack, the background of which was still being investigated by police.

Interior Minister Claude Gueant urged the French to show solidarity with the magazine and to differentiate between peaceful Muslims and those who want to 'turn Islam into an element of conquest, of intellectual imperialism.'

Charlie Hebdo has become accustomed to criticism since it was launched in 1970.

Succeeding a previous magazine called Hara-Kiri which was banned by the authorities, it has always scorned political correctness, targeting the politically and economically powerful as well as the far right, sects, or religious fanatics - including Christian fundamentalists.

The magazine, which was closed between 1981 and 1992 as a result of financial problems, has often faced court cases.

The reports it has been sued over include a 'Special Pope Issue' as well as the reproduction of Danish caricatures of Prophet Mohammed.

The French judiciary, however, sided with the magazine in that case, saying the caricatures targeted terrorists rather than Muslims.

The editors of Charlie Hebdo are already planning their counter-attack against the bombing. 'Not even afraid - we are still there' is being weighed as the next possible cover headline, according to television reports.