'Je Suis Charlie': Cartoonists across the world express solidarity with Charlie Hebdo

The office of a satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, known for its provocative cartoons, was attacked by three gunmen who killed twelve people including eight journalists and two policemen.  

The magazine had faced similar attacks in the past when it was fire-bombed by extremists in 2011 after publishing a cartoon of Prophet Muhammad. A recently-published cartoon of ISIS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi -- which was also tweeted -- is said to have provoked the gunmen who carried out the attack as retribution. According to media reports, witnesses heard the gunmen shouting " We have avenged the Prophet Muhammad" and "Allahu Akbar" (God is great) in Arabic.

Provocative content is often met with the wrath of intolerant forces. Cases of books and movies being banned are not uncommon in India. In the Netherlands, Theo van Gogh was stabbed to death  for publishing cartoons of Prophet Mohammed. 

Salman Rushide, who was in hiding for almost a decade following a fatwa calling for his death for “blaspheming against islam” in his novel Satanic Verses, took to Facebook to  condemn the Paris killings. 

"I stand with Charlie Hebdo, as we all must, to defend the art of satire, which has always been a force for liberty and against tyranny, dishonesty and stupidity," he said. 

 Following the attack, crowds have gathered in protest against the killings in many parts of the world including Trafalgar square in London, Place de la Republique in eastern Paris and other parts of Madrid, Brussels, Berlin etc shouting slogans of "We are not afraid" and holding signs  saying "Je Suis Charlie" (I am Charlie).

Today, cartoonists across the world expressed their solidarity with Charlie Hebdo and responded to the killings with their pens. Social media has been abuzz with people taking to the platform to express their support. 

 

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