Charlie Hebdo editor: ”No more Muhammad caricatures”

Je Suis Charlie

In a startling revelation to German Magazine ”Stern”, Charlie Hebdo editor Laurent Sourisseau has announced that the popular cartoon magazine will no longer feature cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad.

Last January, Charlie Hebdo lost a dozen journalists after al-Qaeda in Yemen stormed the offices in retaliation to Hebdo producing cartoons that the terrorists thought were insensitive. Immediately after, there was a international outpouring of support with “Je Suis Charlie” showing up on The Simpsons, MAD magazine, and more.

Personally, I think this is a victory for terrorists everywhere and a dealt blow to the freedom of speech. Living in America, it can be easy to take for granted these freedoms whilst watching South Park, Family Guy, and others who poke fun of religions of all types – including Christianity, which has certainly gained the ire of right-wing groups like the PTC. But to establish a ban is preposterous, and I think this decision should be reversed. The only thing people need to stop fearing is fear itself. Little victories like this are what keep religious terrorist groups (i.e. ISIS, al-Qaeda, Glenn Beck) in power and do not show acts of bravery, but reactionary impulses that send us back to the stone age and the time of totalitarian rule.