French officials are ramping up embassy security worldwide and have closed embassies, consulates and other sites in 20 countries, anticipating massive protests and potential violence from the publication of a weekly magazine.
The magazine, the Charlie Hebdo, is a satirical magazine and features a number of caricatures of Muhammad, and after major protests and riots over a YouTube trailer for an anti-Muslim film, officials aren’t quite sure what to expect.
The White House slammed the magazine for the publication, saying that the caricatures were “deeply offensive.” French officials have insisted that freedom of speech is inviolable and that they will simply plan for the worst.
Past cartoons have spawned a harsh reaction in the Muslim world, but the attention seems to be almost entirely centered on the YouTube trailer at the moment, so the French situation may slip under the radar.
France just supported the British royal family's request for an injunction against the magazine that published the topless photos of their princess. The royal family will push for the maximum sentence for the photographer, which would involve prison.
It is illegal to deny the holocaust in France.
Sarkozy made it illegal to deny the Armenian genocide; their courts have knocked down that law, but Hollande has vowed to bring it back.
France has what are said to be the toughest laws in the world against anti-Semitic speech.
It is illegal in France to incite racial hatred.
Spare me the 'Muslims don't understand the importance of free speech in the civilized world. comments. It's the height of hypocrisy.
Oh, and while the government supports the magazine's right to publish the cartoons, they've banned a demonstration against it.
These maricas tranceses (French sissies) deliberately provoke the Muslims. When they get hit hard, they will go cry to their American husband.
The french government hung over 1million Algerians tortured millions commited unspeakable crimes against humanity and in the end all was said was "we are sorry" by former president chirac so the sarkozys and all those represensible creatures in france`s government.