Before the trial that began today following the devastating Islamist terrorist attack on the French satirical magazine “Charlie Hebdo” and a kosher supermarket around five and a half years ago, French President Emmanuel Macron defended the right to blasphemy in his country.
The right to blasphemous statements and representations is covered in France by freedom of conscience, Macron said yesterday. His role as president is to “protect these freedoms”. It is not the job of the French President to judge the editorial decisions of a journalist or an editorial team.
A total of 17 people were killed in the series of attacks in January 2015. The three perpetrators were shot dead by security forces. 14 people are charged, three of whom are fugitive. It is mostly about membership in a terrorist organization.
Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin called the process, which should last until mid-November, historical. France has been rocked by acts of terrorism motivated by Islamists for years – more than 250 people were killed.
Again Mohammed cartoons on the title page
Immediately before the start of the trial, “Charlie Hebdo” announced that it would move previously published Mohammed cartoons onto the cover of the new edition. Mohammed caricatures were considered the background to the attack on the editorial team.
The series of attacks in France caused a tremendous sensation at the time and caused worldwide consternation. A wave of solidarity under the slogan “Je suis Charlie” (“I am Charlie”) shaped the time after the attacks.
