Breaking News - Allegedly 10 people killed at office of satirical magazine in Paris

As for free speech, a broadcaster has had to issue a hasty apology for commenting to a woman in Paris who was a child of holocaust survivors that Palestinians suffered at the hands of Jews as well.

And all those international leaders aligned themselves with this at the demonstration - what message does that send out? How is that going to enhance the cause of peace and security?

I know that the magazine staff must be grieving and seething and my heart goes out to them. But they have made an error of judgement at a very sensitive time. I am sorry they have seen fit to do this. It bodes ill for all of us.

Am I the only one thinking that the satirists on that magazine may get attacked once again?
I realise that they are being really brave, but..

I think that you are right petallus. Deliberately provcative.
The magazine seems to be provocative to all sorts of groups and people.
Are they putting two fingers up to humanity in general?

The trouble is with this type of provocation is that it not only puts the authors in danger which of course is their choice, but also other people who have no choice, i.e.: The security forces, other vulnerable groups who are also the victims of hatred, or anyone who just happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and get caught up in the mayhem. Perhaps the editors and staff of this magazine should pause and reflect on this scenario before publication of such offensive material.

It didn't have to be so provocative; it would have been much more effective to attack another group - say world leaders.

They seem determined to have the last word. Let's hope they're not their last words.

Before the unfortunate events at Charlie Hebdo, people were not encouraged to march against hard line extremists, it was frowned upon, hence the arrest of protesters who have demonstrated when hard line Islamists themselves having their own street protests issuing threats go un apprehended. Now we have sanctioned protests because our leaders tell us we can stand up for liberty and freedom, but frankly it won't stop another incident like this happening.

As petallus has brought to our attention, the demand for
"free speech" rings a bit hollow in light of this Mail Online report:

"A BBC reporter has faced calls to resign after he told the daughter of Holocaust survivors in Paris: 'Palestinians suffer hugely at Jewish hands as well'.

"... During a live report from the streets of Paris, Willcox was speaking to a number of participants in the march, including one woman who expressed her fears that Jews were being persecuted, and 'the situation is going back to the days of the 1930s in Europe.'

" ..... to this, Willcox, who was broadcasting on the BBC News channel replied: 'Many critics though of Israel's policy would suggest that the Palestinians suffer hugely at Jewish hands as well.'

When the woman, shaking her head, responded saying: 'We can't do an amalgam', he told her: 'You understand everything is seen from different perspectives.'

There has been a deluge of calls for the journalist's resignation, accusing him of anti-semitism. Probably in an effort to save his career, Willcox today apologised for his comments, taking to Twitter to say he had not meant to cause offence.

Actually he didn't say that, can't remember the exact words but he said something like 'some people might say that Palestinians suffer at the hands of the Israelis' - which is quite different.

I've listened to the interview several times, and he was calm and not aggessive, and didn't push his own opinion, but that of 'some people might'.
It would be a travesty if he had to resign, he did nothing wrong- perhaps a bit 'insensitive' in the circumstances.

Not a resignation matter. He was simply doing his job.

Calling for calm is going to be tricky if the magazine itself carries on regardless.

I really am in two minds about this, on one hand Hebro should not be cowed into submission and by association the rest of us , but please be very careful about chucking more fuel onto the fire .
What a fine line is being trod IMO . I just really do not know what the answer is !! I am sure finer minds than mine all across the world are having good long thoughts and talks about this.

The cartoon depicts the prophet weeping whilst holding a sign that says je sues charlie - all is forgiven.

I remain convinced that if we bow to terrorism, we make a big mistake. I'm not in favour of the UK invading Muslim countries, I live in an area with a large Muslim Pakistani population and where we've avoided race riots etc. It's peaceful and I don't see this cartoon changing that. Maybe I'm wrong but that's how I feel.

Surely Muslim cultural restrictions like not eating pork or drinking alcohol apply only to Muslims.
The same should apply to depicting the Prophet - as long as it's not Muslims who are drawing the cartoons, what laws have been infringed?

Yes! "Je suis Charlie. All is forgiven"

Bloody cheek! Have they checked that out with the families of other victims taken with their people? What about the old woman in the wheelchair, weeping at the funeral of her, probable, grandson in Israel? The young wife being comforted by Hollande in France? Are they sure they have managed to forgive so soon?

Idiots.

Totally insensitive.

Iam64, are you having conversations with the muslims in your area?

News for you janeainsworth - ordinary Muslims have feelings. And they care deeply about their religion.

I don't doubt that, jingl.
All I am saying is that as long as non-Muslims abide by the law of the land, they shouldn't have cultural restrictions imposed on them.

Oh I give up. Either you can feel a bit of empathy or you can't.

You have no idea what I, or anyone else feels, jingl.

I agree with you Jing. I am not Muslim and don't feel the same way about Mohamed, but I can understand that they would find his depiction in this way deeply offensive. In the same way that I would not make racist comments or blaspheme because it would be offensive (regardless of the legality) I would not defame Mohamed.

I know many of you find it very difficult to go past his hair, tatooes and manner, but he really is talking lots of sense here

youtu.be/RPK7t5B2UN4

I often find he reflects my views and talks sense.

8.94M followers on Twitter can't all be wrong. I've loved him when he was more comedian than political activist. He is fascinating to listen to and totally right in what he is saying here.

Also love his hair, tattoos and his manner. Watch this space with him, I reckon things are going to change in the next few years.