'France Has Freedom Of Press': French President Refuses To Condemn Charlie Hebdo Republishing Cartoons Of Prophet Mohammed

French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday (1 September) said he was not in a position to pass a judgement on the editorial decision of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo to republish the cartoons of Prophet Mohammed, reports US News.

Speaking during a visit to Lebanon, Macron said that it was important for French citizens to be respectful for each other, and avoid a 'dialogue of hate' but he would not criticise the magazine for republishing the cartoon.

The French President's remarks came as Chalie Hebdo, the target of a massacre by Islamist terrorists in 2015, decided to republish the cartoons to mark the start of the trial of the accused involved in the attack.

"Beyond the trial that will begin tomorrow (2 September), and I don't have to express myself on this point as president, we will have a thought for all those who fell," Macron was quoted as saying.

"It's never the place of a president of the Republic to pass judgment on the editorial choice of a journalist or newsroom, never. Because we have freedom of the press," he added.

"There is in France a freedom to blaspheme which is attached to the freedom of conscience. I am here to protect all these freedoms. In France, one can criticize a president, governors, blaspheme," he said.

The French President also paid tribute to the victims of the January 2015 attacks.

When the magazine first published the cartoons of Prophet Mohammed, it unleashed a wave of anger in the Muslim world. For Muslims, any depiction of the Prophet is blasphemous, reports DW.

Before the 2015 attack, terrorists online had warned that the magazine would pay heavy price for publishing the cartoons.

As many as 12 people were killed in the 2015 attack on the magazine's offices by Islamist terrorists.