Iran's Khamenei condemns French magazine's republishing of cartoons on Muhammad

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on September 8 that republishing of caricatures appearing to mock Prophet Muhammad by  French satirical magazine was “unforgivable sin”. Releasing official statement on Twitter, Iran’s supreme leader also took a dig on “some French politicians” who are using “excuse” of ‘freedom of expression’ to t criticise “grave crime” of insulting Holy Prophet of Islam.

Khamenei said that t condemning decision of weekly satirical Charlie Hebdo is “completely unacceptable”. Just this week, magazine had republished caricatures of Prophet Muhammad that made many Islam extremists furious. One of cartoons appeared to show Muhammad wearing a bomb-shaped turban and decision to reprint se graphics was deunced by Iran. 

Iran’s Supreme leader said, “ grave & unforgivable sin committed by a French weekly in insulting lumius & holy personality of Prophet (pbuh) revealed, once more, hostility & malicious grudge harboured by political & cultural organizations in west against Islam & Muslim community.”

“ excuse of ‘freedom of expression’ made by some French politicians in order t to condemn this grave crime of insulting Holy Prophet of Islam is completely unacceptable, wrong and demagogic,” he added.

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Macron said Charlie Hebdo had t broken law

Khamenei’s remarks came after France’s President Emmanuel Macron said last week that French satirical weekly had t broken any law by republishing cartoons. magazine had reposted cartoons to mark opening of trial of 14 Islamist gunmen accused of helping attack on French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo and a Jewish store in 2015 began on September 2. 

Separately, in Paris Panon which is a mausoleum to French heroes,  Macron reportedly ted that “to be French” is to “defend right to laugh”. Macron stated that at start of trial of attacks of January 2015 that sent shock waves across France, to be French is to ‘defend right to laugh, jest, mock and caricature’ of which Voltaire maintained that it is source of all or rights. se remarks came after more than a dozen defendants went on trial this week for ir participating in killing spree in Paris officers of Charlie Hebdo magazine that caused death of 12 people. 

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