Charlie Hebdo’s New Caricature ‘Unjustifiably Provocative’: Egypt’s Dar Al-Ifta
Charlie Hebdo’s decision to renew the publication of caricatures of Prophet Mohamed is “an act unjustifiably provocative to the feelings of a billion and a half Muslims worldwide who love and respect the Prophet,” Egypt’s Dar Al-Ifta warned in a statement on Tuesday.
The new issue of Charlie Hebdo will cause a “new wave of anger” in France and the West in general, the statement said, adding that it “will not serve the dialogue between civilisations which Muslims seek.”
The cover of the first edition of the French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo since 12 of its staff members were killed by Islamist gunmen last week showed a cartoon of the Prophet Mohamed crying and holding up a “Je suis Charlie” sign under the words “All is forgiven.”
Dar Al-Ifta, the primary Egyptian authority responsible for issuing religious edicts, described the act as “counter to human values, freedoms, cultural diversity, tolerance and respect to human rights,” adding that it “deepens hatred and discrimination between Muslims and others.”
The statement also condemned the recent attacks against mosques in France warning that such acts will “give extremists from both sides a chance to exchange violence.”
The statement finally requested that the French government, political parties and organisations condemn Charlie Hebdo’s “racist act which works to incite sectarianism.”
It is common for satirical publications in Europe to mock religious figures.
Following the attack in Paris, Egypt’s Al-Azhar, Sunni Islam’s most prestigious centre of learning, issued a condemnation, saying that “Islam denounces any violence.”
President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi also condemned the attack, voicing Cairo’s solidarity with France and underlining that the fight against terrorism is a global concern.
Egypt’s Foreign Minister joined other world leaders in the million man protest in Paris.
Following the attacks that killed 12 staff members, the surviving employees of Charlie Hebdo have sworn to uphold its tradition of lampooning all religions, politicians, celebrities and news events.
On Sunday, huge crowds in France, including 1.5 million in Paris, took to the streets many carrying signs saying “Je suis Charlie.”
Source: Ahram Online
