Charlie Hebdo publishes controversial cartoons on death of Alan Kurdi
Satirical magazine publishes images playing off of infamous photo of drowned child
The French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo is once again provoking debate about freedom of speech after publishing satirical cartoons playing off of the now famous photo of drowned Syrian three-year-old Alan Kurdi.
In one cartoon, the child is depicted under a caption that says: "So close to his goal…" The image also shows a billboard featuring a character who resembles Ronald McDonald, that reads: "Two children's menus for the price of one."
All those who said " <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JeSuisCharlie?src=hash">#JeSuisCharlie</a>" check this out, the ultimate disrespect <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/charliehebdo?src=hash">#charliehebdo</a> <a href="http://t.co/IflIkunidY">pic.twitter.com/IflIkunidY</a>
—@rudol9hAnother cartoon includes a caption that says: "Proof that Europe is Christian. Christians walk on water...Muslim kids sink."
Charlie Hebdo: “The proof that Europe is Christian: Christians walk on waters…Muslim kids sink.” <a href="http://t.co/6HYgu5Puss">pic.twitter.com/6HYgu5Puss</a>
—@thekaramiThe cartoons are drawing a lot of criticism online:
For all those that danced and pranced around chanting <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JeSuisCharlie?src=hash">#JeSuisCharlie</a> , I'm glad that paper finally showed it's true colors...disgusting.
—@eshymonkHearing Charlie Hebdo mocked the death of Syrian boy Aylan Kurdi for the 2nd time. Those satirists sure do punch up and aim at the powerful
—@Remroum<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CharlieHebdo?src=hash">#CharlieHebdo</a> magazine has proven yet again exactly what it is with its latest cartoons on the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Refugeecrisis?src=hash">#Refugeecrisis</a> - pure trash incited hatred
—@SajdaMughalCharlie Hebdo is a purely racist, xenophobic and ideologically bankrupt publication that represents the moral decay of France.
—@herbert_donaldOthers have come to the magazine's defence, claiming Charlie Hebdo is trying to satirize Europe's response to the plight of refugees.
I don't think the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CharlieHebdo?src=hash">#CharlieHebdo</a> cartoon of Kurdi are mocking the dead child. They are highlighting ironies in a nuanced, subtle, way <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kurdi?src=hash">#kurdi</a>
—@noorpamiriExtraordinary that people can read these cartoons and conclude that Aylan is the butt of the joke. Truly. <a href="http://t.co/vxjU658qBN">http://t.co/vxjU658qBN</a>
—@michaeldweissIn January, the slogan "Je suis Charlie," became a popular rallying cry for supporters of the magazine — and of freedom of expression — after extremists, claiming affiliation with al-Qaeda in Yemen, carried out a massacre at the magazine's Paris offices.
In the following days brothers Cherif and Said Kouachi were pursued and eventually killed by French police. A third gunman — Amedy Coulibaly — was followed to a kosher grocery store where he murdered four more hostages and a police officer, before also being killed by police.