Islam versus Europe

The Facebook page of the satirical French magazine Charlie Hebdo was invaded today by a multitude of comments, often extreme, from Muslims indignant about the representation of Mohammed on the publication's front page, rejoicing at the fire which affected the bi-weekly or repeating the Islamic profession of faith at every opportunity.

"I testify that there is no god but Allah and Mohammed is his messenger," says one comment that recurs constantly, quoting the Islamic profession of faith, the first pillar of Islam, in Arabic or translated into French. It has been written dozens and dozens of times, generally cited four times by each visitor and then duplicated by others.

The offices of the satirical bi-weekly were struck by a fire on Tuesday night, while the publication released an edition dubbed "Charia hebdo", with the prophet Mohammed as "editor in chief". "You attacked our Prophet", "Go to hell, Charlie Hebdo", "Shame on you Charlie Hebdo, you had a good run but you'll reap the consequences," the messages also say menacingly, while other argue.

"Muslims demand one thing - public apologies," says one of them. "If you speak of freedom, think what it would do if I caricatured Jesus," says another. Or again: "Your freedom stops at the point where the freedom of others begins...". "But where is Charlie? hahahahahahahahaha", asks another message, clearly rejoicing at the fire. There are hundreds of messages in total on the Charlie Hebdo wall; a few also defend the publication. "Vive Charlie Hebdo!", "Merci Charlie", "Support Charlie Hebdo!!!!!", among the highlights that can be read.

Source: Le Figaro

Other Charlie Hebdo updates:

Several Charlie Hebdo staff members have been put under police protection.

As they did yesterday, some Muslims and Muslim apologists are still insinuating that the far right may have been responsible for the attack rather than Muslims.

"We don't know whether it's a provocation from Islamic fundamentalists or provocateurs from the extreme right. The inquiry will tell us."