[View the story "French magazine illustrates the Prophet Muhammad's life" on Storify ]French magazine illustrates the Prophet Muhammad's life Charlie Hebdo publishes a "halal" comic biography of the Muslim Prophet. Storified by The Stream · Mon, Dec 31 2012 13:06:15
Word of the 2013 release spread over the weekend, mainly in Francophone and European publications.
Rumors in France: French magazine Charlie Hebdo will publish a comic about the life of Prophet Mohammed. Explosive.Raine Tiessalo
The life of Mohammad in cartoons- to be published next week by Charlie Hebdo (french satire mag)...the text by Muslim authors this time.Noopur Tiwari
The first part of the biography is already
available for purchase on the magazine's website.
The Charlie Hebdo online store describes the biography as such: "We have images of Muhammad's life as it has been told by Muslim historians. No humour added. If the form appears to some blasphemous, the background is perfectly halal."
Nous avons mis en images la vie de Mahomet telle que l’ont racontée les chroniqueurs musulmans. Sans aucun humour ajouté. Si la forme apparaîtra à certains blasphématoire, le fond est parfaitement halal…La vie de Mahomet - 1ère partie - Les débuts d'un prophète - Charlie Hebdo - Presse/Livres
Though the magazine claims that the biography cannot be found offensive since it was co-authored by a Muslim, netizens - including senior Turkish government official Ibrahim Kalin - are
questioning the publication.
Charlie Hebdo editor says the cartoons won't be offensive to Muslims. Turning the Prophet of Islam into a cartoon character is itself wrong.Ibrahim Kalin
French mag Charlie Hebdo to publish "Muslim-researched" & nonoffensive comic of Prophet's life. Writer prefered to keep name hidden-surpriseDaniel Nisman
Recalling
previous protests against the magazine's cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad, individual netizens and anti-Islamic organisation Jihad Watch aimed to preempt blow back on the biography.
French weekly Charlie #Hebdo says it will publish more controversial cartoons. Good. We shall never surrender to Islamic blackmail.Julie
And so it will be with this comic book: if Muslims riot and kill once it is published, there will be new calls, even in the Western "free" press, for self-censorship and criminalization of "insults" to Islam.French paper Charlie Hebdo to publish comic book life of Muhammad - Jihad Watch
Others, however, placed blame on the magazine for purposefully inciting protest from their French and global audiences.
and what Charlie Hebdo have done now? i swear to God they must be doing it on purposeAditya Nata
No matter what Charlie Hebdo people say, this is a provocation. My advise to Muslims: Ignore it. Don't give them what they want.Ibrahim Kalin
Gregory Maison tweets: "Charlie Hebdo to publish a comic on the life of Muhammad. RIP Charlie Hebdo".
Charlie Hebdo va publier une BD sur la vie de Mahomet. #RIP Charlie Hebdo Gregory Maison
Janaina Herrara, a former French diplomat in Beirut, equated the special issue to Islamophobia.
can someone stop them please? #islamophobiahttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/9772232/French-magazine-Charlie-Hebdo-to-publish-comic-of-Mohammeds-life.htmljanaina Herrera
One person argues the magazine is entirely aware of the controversy it causes. "Charlie Hebdo makes fun of Muhammad. [It's] in the press. Muslims complain. [It's] in the press. Explosion of sales. Classic".
Charlie Hebdo se fout de Mahomet. La presse en parle. Les musulmans se plaignent. La presse en parle. Explosion des ventes. Classique.Petula Moore
On Twitter, @KarlreMarks considers the topic in a more lighthearted way:
One day Charlie Hebdo will regret his provocative actions, convert to Islam and change his name to Charif Abdo.Karl Sharro
