French magazine publishes cartoons mocking Islam.

[sandyRoe]

http://uk.news.yahoo....rtoons-075448427.html

When will Private Eye do something similar?

[mushroom25]

ian hislop flies by the seat of his pants on occasion - but i don't think even he would dare publish anything like that.

[Duncer]

I dare him!

[Duncer]

Stephane Charbonnier rejected the criticism. "We have the impression that it's officially allowed for Charlie Hebdo to attack the Catholic far-right but we cannot poke fun at fundamental Islamists," he said.

"It shows the climate. Everyone is driven by fear, and that is exactly what this small handful of extremists who do not represent anyone want: to make everyone afraid, to shut us all in a cave," he told Reuters.

Sums it all up very succinctly.

[argorstran]

The comparison that Charbonnier has made is a false one . In order to merit a response like that Hebdo would have to have published cartoons of Jesus Christ in the nude . That is the only thing that would justify her responding by publishing cartoons of Mohammad in the nude . The response to a political attack on the Catholic Far Right should have been a retaliatory political attack , not the publishing of cartoons of Mohammad in the nude . Can nobody else see that ?
Do we really believe that publishing cartoons of Mohammad in the nude is a contribution to freedom of speech ?
Would publishing cartoons of Jesus in the nude as well enhance further their freedom of speech credentials ?
I don't think so .

[Duncer]

No, but it probably wouldn't elicit the burning of Arabic embassies either. The fact that these riots/murders/burnings are designed to make people afraid to speak is what I was referring to.

[emmie]

that is where freedom of speech has gone out the window. many are afraid to speak out, and i doubt even Ian Hislop would do it.

[Duncer]

No chance of little Jimmy Sommerville doing it, he's an astute businessman.

[emmie]

perhaps he doesn't want the office of Private Eye firebombed.

[Duncer]

One of many reasons.......

He probably doesn't want to live like Salamn Rushdie either.

I used to do a pub quiz when I lived in the UAE back in the very early Nineties, and a nurse from Plymouth came along with his pals one night and gave me dogs abuse for refusing to read out their team name. They were called "The Satanic Nurses".

The disco downstairs often played the Desmond Decker classic, "The Israelites" and we all used to sing along with the DJ to the tune of "Oooooh, oooooh, oooooh, My Ears Are Alight", as did many locals, (who whouldn't have been there in the first place as it sold alcohol and they drank copious amounts of it).

[emmie]

though you were going to say the dog's bolloxs.

[Duncer]

I'd have read that one out, but readily admit to cowardice with The Satanic Nurses.

[argorstran]

Magazines deliberately being as outrageous as they possibly can (whether it be cartoons of Mohammad in the nude or topless photos of Kate ) contribute nothing whatsoever to harmony , stability , or freedom of speech .

[Duncer]

Nobody said they did, but the point still stands that the subsequent riots and trouble are designed to make people afraid to speak.

[emmie]

neither do chanting fundamentalists getting upset over a video that most would not have viewed. Or putting a Fatwa on an author, which has lasted for 23 years.

[naomi24]

The question should be 'Is the world beginning to say 'No!' I do hope so.

Love the Satanic Nurses. Great name!

[LazyGun]

If you believe in the principle of free speech, that we as a society have the right to poke fun and ideas, ideologies, then the timing is irrelevant really.

There is a big difference between publishing topless photos who was in a location where they could reasonably expect privacy and a cartoon depicting a nude mohammed.

I am glad that a magazine has the courage to publish satire in the current environment.Charbonnier is right, Rushdie is right; Unless we continually challenge such behaviours, then we are complicit in the intimidation.The extremists win.

[ludwig]

I agree LG.

[anotheoldgit]

Short of a International ban on such things, I cannot see what can be done, or even should be done.

What is interesting however is the fact that political and other satirical type cartoons can be published in Britain, no matter how hurtful they maybe to the persons aimed at, but would any British magazine dare publish anything that may offend Islam.

[AB Editor]

From the onion, MAY NOT BE SAFE FOR WORK: http://www.theonion.c...-of-this-image,29553/

(OR those with sensitive sensibilities)

[Duncer]

I'm offended that nobody can be bothered to be offended.