Charia Hebdo

Arsonists destroyed the offices of Charlie Hebdo in Paris this week, after the satirical magazine published a special edition 'guest-edited' by Mohammed. The issue, titled Charia Hebdo, in a pun on Islamic Sharia law, featured a front-page caricature of Mohammed saying: "100 lashes if you don't die laughing!", and a back-page cartoon of him with a red nose. (Visual depictions of Mohammed's face are strictly forbidden by the Koran.)

The provocative cover image was reprinted in various newspapers yesterday, including the New York Post, the London Evening Standard, Tribune De Geneve, Le Monde, Liberation, Le Figaro, Blick Am Abend, and La Repubblica. It was also shown on the French TV channels TF1 and BRM-TV, though it was censored by CNN. Charlie Hebdo also caused controversy in 2006 with its previous Mohammed cover, printed in reaction to Muslim protests against Mohammed caricatures in Jyllands-Posten.

Jyllands-Posten, in Denmark, published twelve Mohammed cartoons in 2005, causing protests around the world. Many publications subsequently printed their own Mohammed cartoons in solidarity with Jyllands-Posten: Weekendavisen, France Soir, The Guardian, Le Monde, Het Nieuwsblad, The Daily Tar Heel, Akron Beacon Journal, The Strand, Nana, Gorodskiye Vesti, Misselijke Grappen, HP/De Tijd, Lapo Tuak, Dagbladet, Skanepartiet, Adresseavisen, Uke-Adressa, and Harper's.

The Jyllands-Posten cartoons were reproduced in the books L'Affaire Des Caricatures, Manden Bag Stregen, Tavshedens Tyranni, Blasphemy, The Offensive Art, and Muhammad: The 'Banned' Images. They were broadcast by the BBC in 2007, reprinted by several newspapers in 2008, and reprinted by Aftenposten in 2010.

Equally provocative drawings of Mohammed as a dog were reprinted in 2010. The short film Fitna also includes a Mohammed cartoon, and there was an Everybody Draw Mohammed Day! event last year.