Israel Matzav

Mohamed to 'edit' satirical French magazine, offices bombed

A satirical French magazine is to be 'edited' by the Muslim prophet Mohamed this week.

Satirical French magazine Charlie Hebdo is on Wednesday to publish an edition edited by prophet Mohammed, the polemical weekly said, in "honour" of Islam's influence on the Arab Spring.

"In order fittingly to celebrate the Islamist Ennahda's win in Tunisia and the NTC (National Transitional Council) president's promise that sharia would be the main source of law in Libya, Charlie Hebdo asked Mohammed to be guest editor," said a statement.

The weekly has been rebaptised Sharia Hebdo for the occasion, and will feature on its cover a picture of Mohammed saying: "100 lashes if you don't die of laughter!"

On the back page, a picture of Mohammed wearing a red nose is accompanied by the words: "Yes, Islam is compatible with humour."

The cover was circulating on social media such as Twitter on Tuesday, with many users incensed and describing it as "puerile".

That's the magazine cover at top left, but you're not likely to see that cover in many mainstream media because on Wednesday morning or anyplace else for that matter. You guessed it - Charlie Hebdo's offices were bombed.

At around 1am the offices were gutted after a petrol bomb was thrown into a window and set light to the computer system, blowing out windows and burning most of the office contents.

The fire happened before the "sharia" edition was to hit news stands on Wednesday morning in what the paper had mockingly called a "celebration" of the victory of the moderate Islamist party An-Nahda in the Tunisian elections and the Libyan transitional executive's statement that Islamic sharia law would be the country's main source of law. On the front page a cartoon prophet Muhammad says: "100 lashes if you don't die of laughter!"

Can you imagine what things would be like if Muslims weren't tolerant and didn't have a sense of humor?

Labels: Islam, Mohamed, tolerance

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 5:19 PM