[h=1]Defiant Charlie Hebdo's first cover since massacre depicts weeping Prophet Muhammad holding Je Suis Charlie sign as authors aim to sell 3 MILLION copies[/h]
A defiant Charlie Hebdo has released its first cover since Islamist fanatics burst into its offices in Paris and murdered 12 people.
It centres on an image of the Prophet Muhammad, who is shedding a single tear and holding a sign which declares: 'Je Suis Charlie'.
Above the figure, who is drawn in comic style wearing a turban, the text declares: 'Tout est pardonné (All is forgiven)'.
- Cover depicts the central figure of Islam weeping and holding a placard
- Text declares 'all is forgiven' and likens figure to protesters worldwide
- Cartoonist, Luz, is the same man who drew controversial cover in 2011
- Magazine's lawyer previously said it would 'of course' depict the Prophet
- 3 million copies of the satirical magazine to be released from Wednesday
A defiant Charlie Hebdo has released its first cover since Islamist fanatics burst into its offices in Paris and murdered 12 people.
It centres on an image of the Prophet Muhammad, who is shedding a single tear and holding a sign which declares: 'Je Suis Charlie'.
Above the figure, who is drawn in comic style wearing a turban, the text declares: 'Tout est pardonné (All is forgiven)'.
The cover was published tonight by the French newspaper Libération, which has provided a home for the surviving staff under heavy guard.
Within minutes it was circulating around the world on social media and blogs, although for the most part, it was not published by British media.
It was signed by Luz, the same staff cartoonist who drew an image of the Prophet Muhammad on the magazine's cover three years ago, leading fanatics to firebomb the magazine's offices.
Luz, real name Renald Luzier, 42, avoided last week's mass murder because he overslept by half an hour and was late for work.
The cover's release came after the magazine's lawyer Richard Malka said the new edition would 'of course' contain images of the Prophet Muhammad, who Islamic codes dictate should not be depicted.
'We will not give in,' he told a radio station. 'The spirit of "Je suis Charlie" means the right to blaspheme.
'We will not give in otherwise all this won't have meant anything. A Je Suis Charlie banner means you have the right to criticise my religion, because it's not serious.
'We have never criticised a Jew because he's a Jew, a Muslim because he's a Muslim or a Christian because he's a Christian.
'But you can say anything you like, the worst horrors – and we do – about Christianity, Judaism and Islam, because behind the nice slogans, that's the reality of Charlie Hebdo.'
Up to 3 million copies of Charlie Hebdo - whose usual circulation is 60,000 - will be printed on Wednesday.
An initial batch of 1 million copies will be available on Wednesday and Thursday, said Michel Salion, a spokesman for MPL, which distributes Charlie Hebdo.
A further 2 million could then be printed depending on demand.
'We have requests for 300,000 copies throughout the world - and demand keeps rising by the hour,' he said, adding that the newspaper usually had just 4,000 international clients.
'The million will go. As of Thursday, the decision will probably be taken to print extra copies ... So we'll have one million, plus two if necessary.'
Within minutes it was circulating around the world on social media and blogs, although for the most part, it was not published by British media.
It was signed by Luz, the same staff cartoonist who drew an image of the Prophet Muhammad on the magazine's cover three years ago, leading fanatics to firebomb the magazine's offices.
Luz, real name Renald Luzier, 42, avoided last week's mass murder because he overslept by half an hour and was late for work.
The cover's release came after the magazine's lawyer Richard Malka said the new edition would 'of course' contain images of the Prophet Muhammad, who Islamic codes dictate should not be depicted.
'We will not give in,' he told a radio station. 'The spirit of "Je suis Charlie" means the right to blaspheme.
'We will not give in otherwise all this won't have meant anything. A Je Suis Charlie banner means you have the right to criticise my religion, because it's not serious.
'We have never criticised a Jew because he's a Jew, a Muslim because he's a Muslim or a Christian because he's a Christian.
'But you can say anything you like, the worst horrors – and we do – about Christianity, Judaism and Islam, because behind the nice slogans, that's the reality of Charlie Hebdo.'
Up to 3 million copies of Charlie Hebdo - whose usual circulation is 60,000 - will be printed on Wednesday.
An initial batch of 1 million copies will be available on Wednesday and Thursday, said Michel Salion, a spokesman for MPL, which distributes Charlie Hebdo.
A further 2 million could then be printed depending on demand.
'We have requests for 300,000 copies throughout the world - and demand keeps rising by the hour,' he said, adding that the newspaper usually had just 4,000 international clients.
'The million will go. As of Thursday, the decision will probably be taken to print extra copies ... So we'll have one million, plus two if necessary.'
Newspapers around Europe, including Libération, Le Monde and Frankfurter Allgemeine have used the image online. The BBC showed it briefly during a newspaper review on Newsnight. In the US, USA Today and the LA Times ran the cover but the New York Times did not. The Guardian is running this cover as its news value warrants publication.
[h=1]Fear of criticising Islam has given Britain self-imposed blasphemy law, warns former archbishop Carey[/h]
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Former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey said Britain's fear of Islam has led to a self-imposed 'blasphemy law'
- Former Archbishop of Canterbury says Britain fears criticising Islam
- Lord Carey said this had led to a self-imposed 'blasphemy law in the UK
- He said the Press should be encouraged to print controversial material
- Muslims are more offended by violence in name of Islam, Lord Carey said
- Comments come days after Charlie Hebdo massacre by Islamic extremists
- Terrorists killed 12 in attack, including eight journalists and cartoonists
+3
Former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey said Britain's fear of Islam has led to a self-imposed 'blasphemy law'
Britain's fear of criticising Islam has led to a self-imposed 'blasphemy law', the former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey has warned.
Lord Carey's comments come days after the brutal slaughter of journalists at the offices of Charlie Hebdo magazine, which printed cartoons mocking the prophet Mohammed.
He added that the Press should be encouraged to print controversial material, even if Muslims find it offensive.
Writing in the Sunday Times, the former Archbishop said: 'A de facto blasphemy law is operating in Britain today. The fact is that publishers and newspapers live in fear of criticising Islam.'
He said that blasphemy laws were 'unjust and outdated', urging Muslim scholars to make it clear to followers that Islamic laws on insulting the religion do not apply to non-believers.
Lord Carey added that the media should be encouraged to publish controversial material, regardless of whether it will upset Muslims.
'We need not worry about taking the vast majority of Muslims with us. They are much more offended by violence committed in their name than by cartoons or images of their prophet,' he said.
His view was backed up by Chancellor George Osborne, who said: 'Magazines should publish what they want ... without fearing that armed gunmen are going to come through the door and kill them.'
Author Salman Rushdie, whose book 'The Satanic Verses' prompted Iranian clergy to issue a death fatwa on him, also condemned the attack on Charlie Hebdo as an assault on free speech.
He said earlier this week: 'I stand with Charlie Hebdo, as we all must, to defend the art of satire, which has always been a force for liberty and against tyranny, dishonesty and stupidity.'
Lord Carey's comments come days after the brutal slaughter of journalists at the offices of Charlie Hebdo magazine, which printed cartoons mocking the prophet Mohammed.
He added that the Press should be encouraged to print controversial material, even if Muslims find it offensive.
Writing in the Sunday Times, the former Archbishop said: 'A de facto blasphemy law is operating in Britain today. The fact is that publishers and newspapers live in fear of criticising Islam.'
He said that blasphemy laws were 'unjust and outdated', urging Muslim scholars to make it clear to followers that Islamic laws on insulting the religion do not apply to non-believers.
Lord Carey added that the media should be encouraged to publish controversial material, regardless of whether it will upset Muslims.
'We need not worry about taking the vast majority of Muslims with us. They are much more offended by violence committed in their name than by cartoons or images of their prophet,' he said.
His view was backed up by Chancellor George Osborne, who said: 'Magazines should publish what they want ... without fearing that armed gunmen are going to come through the door and kill them.'
Author Salman Rushdie, whose book 'The Satanic Verses' prompted Iranian clergy to issue a death fatwa on him, also condemned the attack on Charlie Hebdo as an assault on free speech.
He said earlier this week: 'I stand with Charlie Hebdo, as we all must, to defend the art of satire, which has always been a force for liberty and against tyranny, dishonesty and stupidity.'
