Editorial

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.

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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.

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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.

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forest northeast of Paris
* Martyn Turner: ‘Charlie Hebdo fought extremism with laughter,
satire and free speech’
* ‘I heard screams. People were running. There were no sirens yet’
* Cartoonists worldwide pay tribute to Charlie Hebdo