Charlie Hebdo‘s editor in chief, Gérard Biard, went on Sunday’s Meet the Press to discuss the effect that the terrorist attacks on their office in Paris earlier this month have had on media.
In addition to that, many wanted to compare Charlie Hebdo‘s strength in the aftermath to the seeming weakness of many other media outlets.
After the attack, much of the press declined to show a photo of the cartoon that sparked the bloodshed at the headquarters of Charlie Hebdo.
In Gerard Biard’s opinion, “When they refuse to publish this cartoon … they blur out democracy, secularism, freedom of religion, and they insult the citizenship.”
Some may agree with Biard’s opinion that when religion shouldn’t become a political discussion, but many side with the Pope who said no one should insult anyone else’s faith.
The Pope said recently of the Charlie Hebdo situation, “one cannot provoke, one cannot insult other people’s faith, one cannot make fun of faith. There is a limit. Every religion has its dignity … in freedom of expression there are limits.”
He added, “If my good friend Dr Gasparri says a curse word against my mother, he can expect a punch. It’s normal. It’s normal. You cannot provoke. You cannot insult the faith of others. You cannot make fun of the faith of others.”
#Iran'ian cleric 'rejoices' in #CharlieHebdo massacre. http://t.co/ePQYfjD3mb @AP @AFP @Reuters @FoxNews @CNN pic.twitter.com/KRijf0Zbc6
— Behzad Moezi (@BehzadMoezi) January 18, 2015
Then there are those who believe in the right to free speech, plain and simple.
For example, in defense of Charlie Hebdo, Polly Toynbee from The Guardian had this to say, and she makes a pretty good point, “Charlie Hebdo’s cover will no doubt offend some Muslims – and possibly provoke some. That’s the role of a satirical magazine: to stick two fingers up to propriety. It is a belch in the face of established taste and dignity.”
She conitnued, “You can buy it or not, find it funny or not. Its previous circulation was small, but knowing anything can be said keeps the outer edges of free expression healthy.”
Churches alight & tear gas fired at #CharlieHebdo protest in Niger's capital, #Niamey: http://t.co/yEqw7G8Dvh pic.twitter.com/zzWMoh66Xl
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) January 17, 2015
What do you think about Charlie Hebdo and their stance on the freedom of speech?
Do you side more with the Pope or the people of Charlie Hebdo?
