Mockery or satire? Charlie Hebdo's cartoons on Aylan Kurdi sparks outrage
15 Sep 2015 1:29 PM GMT
A cartoon shows the drowned child with a board that reads 'Promo! Two kids meal for the price of one'
Left cartoon says: Proof that Chritians walk on water, Muslim children drown. Right cartoon reads: So close to his goal. Promo! Two kids meal for the price of one (Photo: Twitter)
Paris: The controversial French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo is in the eye of the storm again, this time over its cartoons depicting the drowned Syrian toddler Aylan Kurdi, whose photo had drawn the world’s attention to the refugee crisis.
The magazine has published an image featuring the three-year-old boy washed up on the beach and the text says “So near his goal…” and there is a McDonald’s promotional signboard above his body that reads: “Promo! Two kids menu for the price of one.”
The second cartoon by the magazine shows a man that resembles Jesus walking on water with a submerged child only two feet away and the text reads “proof that Chrisitians walk on water” and “Muslim children drown”. The second one has drawn a lot of negative attention and has been interpreted as mocking the death the three year old.
In January this year, armed men had stormed in the magazine’s Paris office, killing 11 people in the building and injuring another 11. It is believed that the men were from al-Qaeda and massacred Hebdo’s employees over images mocking the Prophet Muhammad.
The January killings saw outpouring of support for the magazine but people are now questioning its supporters. The new cartoons have sparked massive outrage across sections of the society including the media.
Wonder if Europe's top leaders still support Charlie hebdo as they mock dead Syrian kids - free speech I guess..
— Sam Beale (@sam_beale) September 14, 2015The drowned Syrian toddler has become a symbol of the refugee crisis and many have taken offence to Charlie Hebdo’s latest issue titled “Welcome Refugees”. Muslims feel that the cartoons are in bad taste and are insensitive.
Freedom of speech shouldn't mean hurting sentiments of others and crossing decent limits of criticism and expressing views #CharlieHebdo
— Palwasha Abbas (@Palwasha_Abbas) September 15, 2015Barrister Peter Herbert who is the Chairman of the Society of Black Lawyers was among those who felt that Charlie Hebdo had crossed the line this time. He took to twitter to express his anger and said that ‘the Society of Black Lawyers will consider reporting this as incitement to hate crime & persecution before the International Criminal Court.’
As more people voice their shock against the cartoons, there are reports that the magazine might even face legal action for the cartoon allegedly being racist and hateful.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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