CHARLIE HEBDO NAMED ISLAMOPHOBE OF THE YEAR

London, 20 Jumadil Awwal 1436/11 March 2015 (MINA) – A British Islamic human rights group has awarded French magazine Charlie Hebdo the infamous award of Islamophobe of the year, defending their decision as per the magazine’s satirical rules.

“The overwhelming majority of people voted for Charlie Hebdo. I think in some ways it’s appropriate,” Massoud Shadjareh, who has been chair of London-based Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) since 2011, told Newsweek.

“The complaint that was made by Charlie Hebdo was that we Muslims do not have a sense of humor and we take things literally and we need to chill out and take what is thrown at us in good humor,” says Shadjareh. OnIslam quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

The award was announced during the IHRC’s annual Islamophobia Awards, which are voted for by members of the British Muslim community, last Saturday.

Having a long reputation for being provocative, 12 people in Charlie Hebdo magazine were killed last January.

The attack was claimed in retaliation for the magazine publishing cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), which many Muslims find extremely offensive.

In its “survivals” edition, Charlie Hebdo magazine featured a cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) on the cover

The cover depicts Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) with a tear falling from his cheek, holding a sign that says, “Je suis Charlie” under the headline “All Is Forgiven.”

The edition, widely criticized by Muslim protests worldwide, followed widespread condemnations from Muslim countries and organizations to the attack on Charlie Hebdo attack, rejecting it as a betrayal of Islamic faith.

“You cannot have one side responsible and one side not responsible,” he says. (T/P007/P3)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)