February 07, 2007
French Paper On Trial for Muhammed Cartoons
This is a case that we all need to be watching closely. A satirical weekly magazine, Charlie-Hebdo is defending itself for daring to run the Muhammed cartoons a year ago.
Charlie-Hebdo and the publication's director, Philippe Val, are charged with "publicly slandering a group of people because of their religion." The charge carries a possible six-month prison sentence and a fine of up to $28,530.
The Paris Mosque and the Union of Islamic Organizations of France brought the charges.
[...]
France's Charlie-Hebdo ran the drawings last February. The magazine featured a cover page showing Muhammad with his head in his hands, crying and saying: "It's hard to be loved by idiots."
In opening arguments Wednesday, Val defended the decision to run the drawings, saying they were aimed "at ideas, not men."
"If we no longer have the right to laugh at terrorists, what arms are citizens left with?" he asked, adding "How is making fun of those who commit terrorist acts throwing oil on the fire?"
The article says that "observers" don't expect French Muslims to get their knickers in a bunch if the magazine's director gets off. That's a mistake. This kind of attitude just goes to show how blind the French really are to what's happening in their country.
Remember the rioters? They'll be back.
Show Comments »
I'm getting sick and tired of these "thou shall not print pictures of the prophet mohammed" stories. If these cretins/Islamo fascists don't like free speech, they should leave the west and crawl back under the rock they came from. It's too bad we can't all get on the same page with renewable energy so we can leave these dumbass sandniggers to their oil and their medieval ways.
Posted by: Bob Dylan at February 7, 2007 12:59 PM
