A trial has opened in France brought by Muslim groups against a satirical weekly magazine that published cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad.
The Grand Mosque and the Union of French Islamic Organizations accuse "Charlie Hebdo" magazine and its director of inciting racial hatred by reprinting the Danish caricatures that sparked violence in the Muslim world last year.
The charges carry a possible six-month sentence and fine of nearly $30,000.
A lawyer for the magazine surprised the court by reading a letter of support from Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy. In it, the conservative presidential candidate said he prefers "an excess of caricatures to an absence of caricatures."
Observers say the case highlights the unclear area between free speech and religious sensitivities.
Fleming Rose, the Danish editor who first published the cartoons in September 2005, said freedom of speech in Europe would be set back "decades" should the French magazine be found guilty.
Copyright (c) 2006. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org
Stay in touch with HULIQ NEWS on Twitter @HULIQ
Comments
Post new comment