The latest ‘Charlie Hebdo’ causes an uproar over free expression

What the Arabic-language press is saying about the latest edition of 'Charlie Hebdo', featuring Asharq Al Awsat and Al Khaleej.

The recent attack on the staff of Charlie Hebdo magazine in Paris prompted an overwhelming response in Europe and around the world. However, the first edition of the magazine since the massacre has caused an uproar in the Arab media.

In the pan-Arab daily Asharq Al Awsat, Abdulrahman Al Rashed wrote that the speech by French president François Hollande evidently had a positive impact in the aftermath of the attacks.

“He defended the Muslim community in France and its integrity and pointed out that terrorist organisations killed more Muslims than non-Muslims,” he wrote.

“The aim of the Islamic State of Iraq and and the Levant (ISIL) – and of Al Qaeda before it – has always been to incite Muslims against others, to stir tensions within mixed communities and to ignite conflicts as they do in every society they infiltrate.

“Despite this, several acts have been committed by racists who wish to benefit from the crimes that took place in Paris and were claimed by Al Qaeda in Yemen. They seek to use the attacks to pit French public opinion and those of others against peaceful Muslims.

“Despite the presence of terrorists, there are great Muslim heroes like policeman Ahmed Merabet, who was killed by the terrorists while chasing them following the attack. Another Muslim hero is the immigrant shop assistant at the kosher supermarket attacked by a gunman, killing four people.

“The French government decided to hold a celebration to honour him after he risked his life to help save several shoppers by hiding them in the supermarket’s freezer. The government has promised to grant him French citizenship and commended his heroic acts.”

He observed that extremist groups like ISIL and Al Qaeda know that “media remains the most effective way to spread images, tears, anger, incitement and insults, and to transfer this battle from the media into our neighbourhoods and homes”.

In the Sharjah-based Al Khaleej, Abdullah Al Suwaihi wrote that “the whole world united to take a stand for freedom of expression, but it did not unite to verbally condemn the bombing of Palestinian children, their homes, their schools, their orchards, farms and waters.

“There is more to it than meets the eye. The Paris march ostensibly rejected terrorism, but it also marked the tacit acceptance of the journey the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle began towards the Middle East, and the policies that will shortly be implemented – particularly in the Arab states – increasing the strain and economic, human, social and developmental losses,” he observed.

“Charlie Hebdo is no symbol of freedom of expression. It soiled freedom of expression. A serious opinion based on objectivity is one that can be debated. Sarcasm and satire are no freedom of expression but rather a vilification of peoples’ beliefs and freedom of worship.”

Also in Asharq Al Awsat, Salman Al Dossari noted that Pope Francis’s position is that freedom of expression and publication was unequivocal but tempered his view by stating that this “fundamental right” does not authorise offending or ridiculing other people’s beliefs.

By contrast, he noted that president Hollande defended Charlie Hebdo, saying that those protesting against its latest issue “do not understand the importance France places on freedom of expression”. Mr Hollande said his country cherishes its principles and values, and this freedom in particular.

“With all due respect, Mr president, provoking hundreds of millions of Muslims to express anger against a handful of terrorists is not freedom of expression,” he concluded, “but rather a violation of it.”

Translated by Carla Mirza