Charlie Hebdo Magazine Releases Cover Showing Prophet Mohamed
The Charlie Hebdo satirical magazine in Paris has already released its new issue, less than one week after a terror attack that killed 12 of its key employees.
The cover of the issue shows a cartoon drawing of the prophet Mohamed with a tear dropping from his eye and the message: "All Is Forgiven. Je Suis Charlie." The magazine will be released en masse on Wednesday, January 14.
The phrase "Je Suis Charlie" has become an international symbol of solidarity and free speech for those who oppose the recent terrorist attack on Charlie Hebdo newspaper last Wednesday, when three masked gunman shot and killed several employees at the newspaper's Paris office, including the head editor and several top cartoonists.
Although Charlie Hebdo has reportedly been in bankruptcy leading up to last Wednesday's attack, the act of terrorism caused donors from around the world to offer money to the satirical newspaper so it may continue publication. The French government also approved a donation of $1.2 million to the newspaper to ensure it would be able to continue publication.
Other notable donors include Google's Press Innovation Fund with $296,000 and Guardian Media Group with $150,000, among other generous donations.
The January 14 edition of Charlie Hebdo is entitled "Le Journal Des Surivants" or "The Magazine of the Survivors." While usually only 60,000 copies of Charlie Hebdo are sold weekly, this week the magazine will print three million copies.
Some have questioned the magazine's decision to publish a cartoon of the prophet Mohamed following the recent terrorist attack that was retribution for such irreverent comics. Charlie Hebdo's lawyer Richard Malka told France Info radio recently that "We will not give in. The spirit of 'I am Charlie' means the right to blaspheme."
