French Magazine Charlie Hebdo Invites Satirical Cartoons Of Gods To Mark 10 Years Since Paris Office Attack Over Mohammed Caricature

Charlie Hebdo magazine is commemorating the tenth anniversary of a lethal assault on its Paris office, which left France in shock, by initiating a cartoon contest that satirises God, with submissions due by Sunday (15 December).

The satirical publication was the target of an attack by two Islamic extremists on 7 January 2014, during which eight staff members, including some of France's most renowned cartoonists, were killed within the central Paris office.

The assaulters, two siblings who were subsequently eliminated by law enforcement, aimed at Charlie Hebdo following its choice to disseminate caricatures that satirised Mohammed, whom Muslims consider their Prophet.

In a characteristically bold manner, the firmly non-religious magazine requested cartoonists to provide the most humorous and harsh sketches ridiculing God, in anticipation of the anniversary, The Hindu reported.

Initiated last month with a cut-off date of 15 December, the message was aimed at those tired of living in a society governed by God and religion. It reached out to those weary of the conventional notions of good and evil, and those frustrated with religious leaders controlling their lives. It was not immediately confirmed how many were dispatched for publishing.

The assault on Charlie Hebdo sparked a surge of empathy and a tide of "Je Suis Charlie" ("I Am Charlie") unity for its editorial staff and renowned illustrators Cabu, Charb, Honore, Tignous, and Wolinski, who tragically lost their lives.

The carnage was a component of numerous Islamist-motivated schemes that took the lives of hundreds of individuals in France and Western Europe in the ensuing years.

In anticipation of its 10th anniversary, the magazine has released a book showcasing the works of its departed contributors, and public tributes are expected to take place on the day of the attack.

Charlie Hebdo, established in 1970, has consistently pushed the limits of French hate speech legislation. These laws protect minorities and prohibit the incitement of violence, but they also permit the critique and ridicule of religion.

In France, advocates for free speech view the right to critique and mock religion as a significant triumph in a historic struggle to liberate the nation from the control of the Catholic Church.

However, detractors contend that Charlie Hebdo has unnecessarily insulted followers and exhibited Islamophobia, citing caricatures of Prophet Mohammed which seem to link Islam with terrorism.

The publication routinely features satirical cartoons that mock various religions, including Christianity. Two legal complaints were lodged by Catholic organisations in response to an image of the Virgin Mary portrayed as afflicted with the mpox virus in August.

A year after the assault, the weekly magazine showcased a cover illustration featuring a bearded deity-like character bearing a Kalashnikov rifle, with the headline "One year later, the murderer remains at large".