The source said gunmen had hijacked a car and knocked over a pedestrian as he sped away. PHOTO: AFP
A police union official said the assailants remained at liberty and there were fears of further attacks.
Charlie Hebdo (Charlie Weekly) is well known for courting controversy with satirical attacks on political and religious leaders.
The last tweet on its account mocked Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, the leader of the militant Islamic State, which has taken control of large swathes of Iraq and Syria.
President Francois Hollande rushed to the scene. "An act of indescribable barbarity has just been committed today in Paris," he said.
"Measures have been taken to find those responsible, they will be hunted for as long as it takes to catch them and bring them to justice."
A short amateur video broadcast by French television stations shows two hooded men outside the building.
One of them sees a wounded policeman lying on the ground and strides over to him to shoot him dead at point-blank range.
The two then walk over to a black saloon car and drive off.
A police official said the gunmen fled towards the eastern Paris suburbs after holding up a car.
"There is a possibility of other attacks and other sites are
being secured," Police union official Rocco Contento said.
Sirens could be heard across Paris as Prime Minister Manuel Valls said security would be ramped up at transport hubs, religious sites, media offices and department stores.
Police union official Contento described the scene inside the offices as "carnage".
Ten members of the Charlie Hebdo staff died in the attack, prosecutors said.
Sources at the weekly said the dead included co-founder Jean "Cabu" Cabut and editor-in-chief Stephane "Charb" Charbonnier.
"About a half an hour ago two black-hooded men entered the building with Kalashnikovs (rifles)," witness Benoit Bringer told TV station iTELE.
"A few minutes later we heard lots of shots."
The massacre Wednesday at French weekly Charlie Hebdo took place after years of confrontation between the satirical publication and Muslims infuriated by what they see as its attacks on their religion.
Its offices were fire-bombed in November 2011 when it published sacrilegious cartoons that had originally appeared in Danish daily Jyllands-Posten, causing fury across the Muslim world.
In September 2012 Charlie Hebdo published controversial cartoons as violent protests were taking place in several countries over a low-budget film, titled "Innocence of Muslims", which was made in the United States and insulted the prophet.
French schools, consulates and cultural centres in 20 Muslim countries were briefly closed along with embassies for fear of retaliatory attacks.
Editor Stephane Charbonnier has received death threats and lives under police protection.
The Danish newspaper beefs up security
The Danish newspaper that caused a global stir with a series of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed stepped up security on Wednesday after the attack, a report said.
Jyllands-Posten informed its staff by e-mail about the unspecified security measures, the Danish paper Berlingske said on its website.
"Surveillance and the level of security in and around our headquarters in Copenhagen and in (the west Danish city of) Viby has been increased," Berlingske quoted the email as saying.
Meanwhile, the Danish security and intelligence service said in a statement that it was monitoring the situation carefully.
"For the time being, the situation does not warrant a change in the assessment of the terrorism threat against Denmark, which remains serious," it said in a statement.
Kurt Westergaard does not fear for his safety
Kurt Westergaard, the artist behind the most controversial of the 12 cartoons, was targeted in a failed murder attempt at his home in 2010 but told media on Wednesday that he did not fear for his safety thanks to police protection.
He told Danish public radio that the Paris attack was "scary and horrible" and he praised Charlie Hebdo's staff for holding "all authoritarian forces" to account regardless of whether "they're Islamists, Catholics or politicians."
Worldwide condemnations pour in
US President Barack Obama condemned the attack calling it a "terrorist attack" and pledging US assistance.
"We are in touch with French officials and I have directed my administration to provide any assistance needed to help bring these terrorists to justice," he said.
The US embassy in France has changed the avatar of its official twitter page to "Je Suis Charlie" in wake of the attack.
British Prime Minister David Cameron also condemned the attack as "sickening" and said Britain stood with France in the fight against terror.
"The murders in Paris are sickening. We stand with the French people in the fight against terror and defending the freedom of the press," Cameron said in a statement on his official Twitter feed.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel condemned the deadly shooting calling it an attack on freedom of speech and the press.
"This abominable act is not only an attack on the lives of French citizens and their security," Merkel said in a statement.
"It is also an attack on freedom of speech and the press, core elements of our free democratic culture. In no way can this be justified."
In a separate statement, Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel called the attack an "unbelievably brutal crime."
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also condemned the attack, branding it an assault on the media and freedom of expression.
"It was a horrendous, unjustifiable and cold-blooded crime. It was also a direct assault on a cornerstone of democracy, on the media and on freedom of expression," Ban said.
COMMENTS (73)
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@numbersnumbers and Ab,
Read my comments from the beginning and do not quote me out of context.I am replying to the idea that "France's patience being tested by Muslims" posted by an Indian above by citing these examples of Muslim's patience being tested by the French. Why forgo the genocide in 1950s or the British and Indian colonization while bringing up 1971 if events from the past have expiration date? Most importantly, I cited recent French colonization of Afghanistan to make a point about the murderous adventure of the French in the Muslim world. These examples are crucial in puncturing two things: 1) French people never killed- which is far from the reality. French people only cared about the killings when they were the victims, 2) their are enlightened and tolerant people - they have tremendous hate in their heart and blood in their hands themselves.
Thirdly, I also pointed out about the hate nature of these cartoons toward Muslims. Current remembrance of these satirists refused to call them for their hateful nature toward Muslims. Hiding this hate is crucial because the French people are trying to make heroes out of these hateful men.
Finally, I do not support innocent British or Indians to be punished for what their fathers have done to Muslims. However, if they start telling me that the British and the Indians are tolerant people "unlike Muslims", I will bring these examples to puncture their myth.
@Zeeshan:
If the genocide by the Colonial French is to be used as a justification for the killing of cartoonists, then the British Colonial occupation of sub-continent killed more than many millions . So, do you think the modern day Indian, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis have the right to kill any innocent British because their ancestors were slaughtered by the colonial rulers?
@Zeeshan: Second try! Wow, going all the way back to the Algerian War of Independence in the 1950s/early 60s to justify this killing in France! By your reasoning the population of a EAST PAKISTAN would be justified (Today!) in avenging the rape and slaughter of 100s of thousands of EAST PAKISTANIS (in the early 70s!) by the supporters and army of WEST PAKISTAN!!!!'
DMO,
Where is these majority, elite and minority talk come from? No Afghans did 9/11 but that did not prevent the French and their collaborators to bomb that country and colonize it. That colonization took place in the last 10 years. Were you sleeping or were you only paying attention to what "Front Nationals and other Far Right groups" have been saying?
@Pindi Kid: Bro you are very smart or intelligent kid or you will earn respect and honor, you know why? Bcz god gifted you broad mind to understand cause of this mess or you simply write the cause or solution.you are not those kind of ppl who blame other ppl for own weakness or mistakes, gud luck
@Zeeshan:
When did the French ever colonise Afghanistan?
Also the 'French' didn't do those things, at least not the majority alive now and certainly not a handful of cartoonists. A political elite and ruling class did it for their own benefit and seldom for the good of the people. You're on a par with Front Nationals and other Far Right groups - defending collective punishment.
@numbersnumbers
"Please tell us just WHERE the French have killed 12 MUSLIMS in a terrorist attack where they gunned down unarmed civilians! WAITING!!!!"
You must be kidding me right? The French colonization of Algeria led to the genocide of almost 350,000 Algerians (this is the conservative figure given by the French and not the 1.5 millions given by the Algerians) who were killed because they were freedom fighters and unarmed civilians. The Setif massacre alone in 1945 witnessed the genocide of 6000 unarmed Muslims in the hand of the French colonizers.
Secondly, the colonization of Afghanistan by the French led to uncounted number of deaths among civilians and fighters. To whitewash French genocide by only concentrating on "unarmed civilians" is to ignore the crucial trajectory and context to why these "unarmed civilians" eventually carried guns as fighters and fought the French.
@FranceNice!:
Hi.. these were done by non-state actors....in paksitani language .. a strong team of motivated brinwashed individuals who will do anythign in teh name of religion. If they can be handled carefully they can be used as strategic assets for future use...the other extreme is also ok... Kill a few local children and ensure yo ucreate enought hatred agsint the mlocally when they go out of use( beyond expiry date) and then hag them in via trial conductedi nspecial military courts...
@Ahmed: Do you even read what you write? You mentioned the BBC, CNN and the New York Times...now you speak of web sites, social media etc. You've been busy.
@nadeem - "The West’s 100+ year’s policy of colonizing, exploiting, ruling, demolishing and interfering in the Muslim world has a price tag "
This kind of thinking (providing justifications), was the cause of Peshawar carnage a month back..
Even if you're argument is true, the Muslim world can set the price tag in other forms (economical etc.) rather than violence...
The U.S. bombed Japan and the Japanese extracted the price in terms of economic aid, technology transfers rather than going around killing innocents in America... That's the reason why Japan is where it is and Muslim world is in the dumps.
Important facts of the French journalist killed the executioners did not kill people at random, they did not attack the French military, their misson was pre-planned, they did not blow themselves as most extremist do so how did he French intelligence miss this major attack? Blamming Indians, Western media or Muslim immigrants is mising the point,.
@Zeeshan: Please tell us just WHERE the French have killed 12 MUSLIMS in a terrorist attack where they gunned down unarmed civilians! WAITING!!!!
Muslims doing Muslim things, nothing will change!
@Iqbal: You r nice man bro god gifted u dare to speak truth, gud luk and best wishes
@Amir: Albakistan is infested with sick people. The only time you will understand right from wrong is when your own children and family members are killed by these terrorists. And you would the be told that you brought it upon yourself.
Islam does not allow individuals to go around killing like this. Thats quite simple. If u defend this attack u r not muslim.
@Westerner: I wholeheartedly agree. The intolerant immigrants must be put back on the boats pronto.But if some terrorists have names like Zehaf-Bibeau and Rouleau, the West (and the westerner) have much to ponder. Many many Muslims have suffered the wrath of intolerance too, in their native lands. When our schoolchildren are slaughtered by the dozens, it only means that we are fighting back ... and probably hitting where it hurts. The struggle is not just yours. We are in it too.
@Iqbal: can soemone write something praising hitler in france? change your name to show urself as paki iqnotbal?!
@nadeem:
Shame on you and the other terrorist apologist.
France is a great country. The French are a great people. I am sure at this time of great sorrow for them, they will rise to the challenge they face.
These savage terrorists are trying to polarise this world - there are also extremists in the west - we have to make sure that does not happen.
We are with you France!
From Pakistan
Very saddened by the terrible events in Paris.
I would like to tell the people of France we Pakistanis stand with you at this time.
Condolences to the families who lost loved ones.
"Hate speech is one that incites people to violence or demands that rights of others are truncated. Everything else is free speech. This is the difference – when you say Qadianis are wajib-ul-qatl, when you say Shezaan juice should boycotted, when ou vandalise the graves of Qadianis – all that is hate speech. The newspaper did not say Muslims shold be killed or denied employment or encourage that Muslim graves should be desecrated. Spot the difference?"
This kind of sudden quest to differentiate between hate speech and free speech is not based on reality. After all, how many Indian politicians would fit into the definition of "hate speech" given their proclivity to chant "deaths to Pakistan and Muslims"? If killing was the criterion to differentiate between hate speech and free speech, hate speech will not need to exist.
Hate speech is used widely even it didn't elicit outright killing. I have a question:does calling Muslims as terrorists is a form of hate speech or free speech?
These satirists were individuals who spewed hate speech. Calling otherwise is to whitewashed their hate speech and transforming them into martyrs of free speech.
This is French Problem and they should settle it. Not our concern. Not in our name please
Yo2Da2,
"YouTube Brigitte Gabriel, an Arab scholar."
Indians quoting Youtube scholars now. She's a Maronite. Not an Arab. And, she's a symbol of hate that culminated in Sabra and Shatilla.
@Pindi Kid, Parvez ... Thank you. Most Muslims like to point out that the extremists are just a fraction of the 1.5 billion muslims in the world. What if a fraction of the 5.5 billion non-Muslims decide to become extremist and start behaving as these extremists do? There is a breaking point and hopefully we have not crossed it ...
@Sid,
In what world are you living in when you said "French people don't go around and kill Muslims". They have killed more than 12 Muslims. Not outrage. Not vigils when the victims are Muslims.
@Pindi Kid,
"These type of liberal journals satire all religions and politicians just as they do Islam. In the US some people burn the US flag and make fun of Jesus, yet no one goes on a killing rampage as a result. It is time we temper our response in a civilized way. Shame on those commenters here who try to explain away the terror as an understandable response. No non-muslim is responsible for maligning Islam as much as muslims through our own actions. If this crime was committed by muslims then there will be no wonder why the rest of the world thinks of muslims as barbarians."
Why are you transforming these hateful satirists into mere liberals (liberals are themselves hypocrites who passed hate laws for values they championed)? These "liberal satirists" will not go after sacred cows such as Holocaust or Black people in France. What these "liberal satirists" have continued to employ is "journalism" as a cover for their hate speech toward Islam and Muslims. These hateful satirists who spit on Muslims in France (the grandchildren of the people whose land they once colonized) are now being transformed to be martyrs of free speech?
Nasir
@Last Word: Hurt the religious sentiments? Where I've heard of this before? Saudi Arabia, that great champion of free speech and democracy, tried to get a resolution passed by the UN General Assembly along these lines. (They haven't succeeded yet.) Their aim was to suppress Islamophobia around the world. India, a secular democracy, had a similar law passed which was used by a right-wing, anti-intellectual so-called historian (Dinanath Batra) to get the publisher destroy remaining copies of a history book written by a real scholar (Wendy Doniger of the University of Chicago) because he didn't agree with its premise. Great! You can either have unfettered free speech on which democracy itself rests or you can have another type of system (mostly dictatorial) where you can pass laws that slice and dice that freedom. Sorry, but you cannot have both.
@Last Word:
Wrong. Everyone has a right to be offended. No one has a right to 'not be offended'. What did the SC in India say about PK to those who wanted the movie o be banned because it offended them - it said don't watch the movie if it offends you. Saudi Arabia and many other Islamic nations presented a resolution in UN in 1999 which asked a law to be passed to respect belief of people. Of course not surprisingly, the words of the religion only referred to Islamic belief. Thisresolution cold never be passed. An alternative resolution was passed that said it was important o respect right of believer to practice whatever he believed in rather than protect the belief per se. Of course that is something Saudi Arabia and many other Muslim majority countries are unwilling o do.
@Ansari: "How you guys differentiate between Free Speech and Hate Speech? When someone talks about Qadiyani, its hate speach. If someone talks about Islam and Muslims, that’s what you call Free Speech .. Ohh Liberal Nuts"
Hate speech is one that incites people to violence or demands that rights of others are truncated. Everything else is free speech. This is the difference - when you say Qadianis are wajib-ul-qatl, when you say Shezaan juice should boycotted, when ou vandalise the graves of Qadianis - all that is hate speech. The newspaper did not say Muslims shold be killed or denied employment or encourage that Muslim graves should be desecrated. Spot the difference?
@Parrot: According to some estimates based on research, the "few" is as high as 25% of all Muslims in the world. YouTube Brigitte Gabriel, an Arab scholar. This is what Saudi oil profits are buying by propagating their vile version of the faith.
@pakistani: I agree with you. But we've been going round and round about this very subject on other blogs on this and other Pakistani English language newspaper sites. There has not been, nor will there be, a resolution. There are people, including these terrorists in France and ISIS, who are disagreeing with your interpretation and those of other good, tolerant and nonviolent Muslims around the world. They are getting the headlines. My advice to you is to continue to leave peacefully among fellow human beings and continuing to reinforce that more powerful counter example. Someday it will prevail over this growing evil.
This was a cowardly, terrorist, inhuman act.....and lets face it those who claimed responsibility are Muslims...... saying otherwise make one sound like an apologist or sympathizer. The way to counter this evil is to face facts and look inward instead of living in denial.
@Ansari: Here's the difference. Speech is protected in democracies and Western nations. Very few subjects are taboo, including the questioning of religion. In non-Western countries, like those of South Asia and ALL Muslim majority countries, speech - especially about religion and other forbidden topics - is not protected. When Muslim terrorists attack targets in Western and other democratic countries because their citizens were exercising their freedom, that's crossing the line. Terrorist attacks in Denmark and now France are not acceptable! Muslim governments and people can do what they want in their own countries for what they may deem "hate" speech; just don't try to stifle it in countries where all kinds of speech is protected. That, my friend, is the difference. If you do not like the concept of free speech (or freedom itself), then please stay home and keep your "enlightened" values safe there.
Simple solution If you don't like the West, don't come here! If you are already here in the West and still don't like it, leave!!
@nadeem: By the same logic, the descendants of people and nations brutally colonized, converted, destroyed by Arabs and other foreign Islamic invaders over a much longer period than 100 years should be avenging by terrorizing Muslims in Muslim majority countries of the Middle East and Central Asia. Right? Or are you saying that Europeans were the only colonizers in history? Most European colonizers left their colonies, by the way. Have their Muslim counterparts done that?
@Amir:
It is stupid to blame the French and claim that they brought up on themselves. No one has the right to take lives and act god in the name of religion.
Though this violent incident is being condemned throughout the world but some important lessons need to be learnt. First and foremost is the question of freedom of expression and liberty which requires to be deliberated by Western countries and it is appropriate time that guidelines to journalists be issued that the same should not be misused to hurt the sentiments and religious beliefs of any faith or community. In this particular case, the French cartoonists not only made some controversial cartoons against Islam but also ridiculed some militant groups tweeting on their empty threats to take revenge which is quite unacceptable even to the liberals notwithstanding the fanatics who were incited to act violently. However, Muslim countries also need to do retrospection of their education curriculum which contains hatred element towards other religions along with overdose of jihad leading their youth to become increasingly intolerant and violent towards non-Muslims.
@Amir: You are so right. It is not the religion but Muslims acting in its name who are causing death and destruction all over the world. Lighting up the dark corners of the world? Indeed!
@Zeeshan: French people did not go and kill the muslims. If their hatred towards muslims are expressed by cartoons your reply is to use guns? not cartoons ? hmmm.......Violence is justified for every action in your culture isn't it?
And Turkey is protesting against "Islamaphobia" ? Just because Islamic countries have no freedom of speech they want to silence the countries which has these freedoms. Muslims are too sensitive about everything and thats the reason why there are more Islamic extremists than christian jew or hindu extremists.
First, we all must condemn this act of terror just as we do all the ones committed in Pakistan. Second, we must decide if we want to be a democratic country and understand what that means internationally. It means you have to live with a high level of tolerance towards differing views, and no matter how insulted you feel there is no room for reacting with violence. These type of liberal journals satire all religions and politicians just as they do Islam. In the US some people burn the US flag and make fun of Jesus, yet no one goes on a killing rampage as a result. It is time we temper our response in a civilized way. Shame on those commenters here who try to explain away the terror as an understandable response. No non-muslim is responsible for maligning Islam as much as muslims through our own actions. If this crime was committed by muslims then there will be no wonder why the rest of the world thinks of muslims as barbarians.
@Ahmed:
From the UK I've been checking Pakistani news comments, lots of justifications and excise making for the attackers mixed in with complaints about Western media. Virtually no condemnation.
We as Muslims need to accept that we need to be more civil with opinions that differ from ours, even if they are highly offensive.
We have a problem and we need to address our problem. If the people who attacked the magazine office called themselves Muslims, our calling them non Muslims is not enough. We will just be called non-Muslims back from within our own ranks.
The Muslim voice has been hijacked for centuries. We need to introspect, accept our faults, educate and make real changes in the way we think.
@ Iqbal: "In my books we have failed because I cannot think of any Islamic country today which is stable."
That's exactly what they wanted you to believe! You mark the success of all the anti-Islam / anti-religion movements.
@Mahmood Stop being an imposter malwari !! Just from now on, follow any news related to Pakistan or muslims and you'll see malwaris and khatris trolling hard on them.
Condemned. Terrorist has no religion.... Islam is religion of peace and love
@Thotatum25 I am talking about their websites and Social media pages. You can't just go and comment on the TV.
@Amir: When the paragons of said religion breed nothing but intolerance and hate for anything in disagreement to them - it is perfectly reasonable to blame and chastise them.
"The French brought it upon themselves for victimizing and traumatizing Muslims."
That statement is inane, banal and juvenile in and of itself. In light of that, I think it would be perfectly just to say - "The muslims have brought it upon themselves for lacking rationale, morality and the basic ethics of humanity".
There is more injustice, greed, anarchy, intolerance, crime, terrorism, lack of education and last but not least - absolute corruption in Muslim states than in countries where other religions prevail. These are facts, you understand? Facts! What kind of delusion are you people even living in? How can we be so blinded by our own illogical arguments that you absolutely fail to see what is staring you right in the face?
@Muhammad,
Can't you find a better name like Krishna? When I said testing the patience of the Muslims, I am referring to French's colonization and continued colonization and imperialism of Muslim nations. From Algeria to Afghanistan. Most of the Muslims who are now in France are victims of French imperialism. They are the grandchildren of those whose land the French once colonized.
Secondly, the newspaper targeted has been the forefront of French's zealotry and hatred toward Muslims. Reducing French people as "tolerant people" when they published the most heinous diatribes and support the colonization of Muslim countries or have hatred toward Gypsies and Blacks (anything non-whites) is what deserved a mental asylum.
I've been living in Paris for the past 5 years and have found French public reserved but very open and very accommodating. I have not felt even for a single time any fear or intimation because of my religion or nationality. We have very peaceful environment here. The killings will disturb such peaceful environment, up to what extent? Well that remains to be seen.
@Zeeshan: So you are implying that muslims are like intolerant bullies whose patience should not be tested? And if your patience is thin enough to be let loose by just a bunch of cartoons, you belong in a mental asylum.
Now it is muslims...before this it was communists, and before this it was Mau Mau....List is endless and who is at the center stage? It is Britain, US, and France ...for the last 400 years these thuGGs have been looting & plundering the world (called colonialism), changing demographics ( gene engineering population control) Promoting atheism , secularism and liberalism (sowing seeds of their satanic "philosophies").......
China, USSR, Latin nations, muslim nations are fed up with these gangsters....They All hate western imperialism-colonialism..and its side-effects .
This is just a reaction to all that.
@Stranger,
"France is a very tolerant country. dont test its patience "
Calling France is a "very tolerant nation" is like calling South African whites as "tolerant people". The country is a ghetto for non-whites. And, I am guessing you know that France has been testing the "patience" of the Muslims for hundreds of years now.
There is no doubt Western journalism sometimes goes too far in the name of free speech but this does not justify these killings. This will only further tarnish the name of religion Islam.
Muslims had no problem with M F Hussain's obscene painting of Hindu Goddesses. At the same time his life should not had been threatened in India which however rarely happens
@Amir: Your comment makes absolutely no sense and contradicts itself. First you blame the actions of a few extremists. Then you flip the blame on to France itself. Indeed, I think your comment was not made in seriousness at all, but rather was a sarcastic outburst arising from your disgust at this incident.
@Iqbal: I couldn't agree with you more. But unfortunately no moderate Muslim will take ownership and will just casually pass the blame on to any one of the following: a) a "few" violent misguided Muslims, b) Hindu agents c) Zionists d) CIA e) Hindu Zionist CIA agents f) pink unicorns g) etc etc.
While I condemn Islamophobia, I find the lack of outcry from the Muslim community appalling. Until good people rise up and fight back the murderers of their own people, this kind of crazy violence will persist. The Religion of Peace?Not as long as this is tolerated.
These cowards run from their islamic countries to live in civilized states and then try to change those states into that sort of crap, from which they ran, mindless freaks, such creatures deserve no humanity, they should killed as soon as captured, and preferably by most humilious and inhumane way, so that others learn that these creatures deserve no place or respect on this earth.
@Iqbal: You cannot blame Islam for this disgraceful event. Its the individuals who misinterpret Islam for their own benefit. These people don't represent Islam
@Amir: Victimizing and traumatizing Muslims? The 55000 victims in Pakistan are already dead. This is the next small step in the clash of Western civilization with the uncivilized. The West still has too many apologists but their numbers will dwindle. 12 murdered for their opinion is small by Pakistani standards but immensely large by French standards. Shame on you.
@Ahmed: Really? I have watched the news reports on the Paris shooting on CNN, BBC and AL-Jazeera. I have yet to come across an Indian commentator on any of them.
@ Ahmed There is no doubt there are agents at work trying to create a negative image of Muslims. Some of these Indians are being paid to spread the venom. These Indians are online all the time and they need to earn money to live. India is the call center of the world and they get money from overseas countries.
How you guys differentiate between Free Speech and Hate Speech? When someone talks about Qadiyani, its hate speach. If someone talks about Islam and Muslims, that's what you call Free Speech .. Ohh Liberal Nuts !!
As Michael Sheuer (the former head of CIA's Get-Osama unit) says: every policy comes with a price tag and blowback. The West's 100+ year's policy of colonizing, exploiting, ruling, demolishing and interfering in the Muslim world has a price tag too. If the French people, American people, British people are happy to that price at home, who am I to complain?
@Amir: I don't know whether you have noticed that France is not called "The Islamic Republic of France". Their constitution allows them free speech. If people who live there do not like it then they are welcome to live in a backward country. Everyday there is some kind of negative news abount Muslims and it is about time we took responsibility and stop throwing conspiracy theories at Indians, Jews and Americans. In my books we have failed because I cannot think of any Islamic country today which is stable. I hope ET will publish this.
From CNN to BBC and NYtimes, I am witnessing worst ever hatred against muslims. Just go there and read the comments and guess what. As usual and as expected, this hate speech is led by the Indians. They are always in-charge whatever opportunity they get to spit out venom against muslims and Islam.
France has more tolerance for Muslims than a Muslim country. We must not go after a France if its not sponsored by her. For That a State must be persistently claimed and involved in such act. That U.S. movie "Innocence of Muslims" was also made by unknown producer with no relation to Hollywood movies rules and conduct. As a mater of fact the actors sued the director and producer of that movie for tricking them into signing for some other movie then dubbing words later. No actors in that movie actually had agreed to anti-Muslim dialogues. We must know some tine anti-Muslim lobby does our "killing" for us to defame us! Be careful of you riots and hate speeches! Someone out there who hate you will just go and do that job for you blaming on your last speech and the claim you made!
France is a very tolerant country. dont test its patience .