The massacre at the offices of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in
Paris was not only a barbarous act of terrorism but an assault on
freedom of expression, one of the fundamental human rights. The

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A small-circulation magazine that often attracted more public
condemnation than praise, Charlie Hebdo is part of a tradition of
robust French satire that stretches back to before the revolution, when
scandal sheets mocked the sex lives of the royal family. Best known for
its cartoons, Charlie Hebdo has caused offence to people of various

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lampooning the prophet Muhammad; some of them depicting him naked.

Some of the criticism of Charlie Hebdo’s provocative satire was
legitimate and its cartoons caused real offence to many people, some of
them members of minorities already under pressure in France. It is one
thing to argue about whether particular expressions of satire are
appropriate or tasteful but quite another to claim a right not to be
offended. The massacre at the magazine’s offices was something of a

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journalists and cartoonists at Charlie Hebdo had the right to publish
it and they share no responsibility for the attack that killed them.
Their murders must not be allowed to intimidate satirists elsewhere
from tackling sensitive issues and their right to offend must be
defended with courage and vigour.