The editor-in-chief of France’s Charlie Hebdo newspaper on Sunday criticized U.S. media for refusing to publish the paper’s controversial cartoons.
Gerard Biard told NBC’s “Meet the Press” that the paper’s satirical cartoons, which take aim at religious figures, and in particular, the Prophet Muhammad, symbolize free speech.
“It’s a symbol of freedom of speech, freedom of democracy and secularism,” Biard said in an interview from Paris. “It is this symbol newspapers refuse to publicize when they refuse to publish this cartoon. They blur it out, they blur out democracy, secularism and freedom of religion and they insult the citizenship.”
Biard said he was not present during the Jan. 7 attack on the offices of Charlie Hebdo in which two Islamic extremists opened fire on employees, killing 12 and injuring many more.
“Some of the injured are still in serious condition,” Biard said.
The latest edition of Charlie Hebdo features a crying Muhammad raising an “I am Charlie” sign. More than 7 million copies have been printed thanks to high demand.
Biard responded to comments by Pope Francis, who said last week it was wrong to insult faith and religion.
“Every time we draw a cartoon of Muhammad or the prophet or of God, we defend the freedom of religion,” Biard said. “We declare God must not be political or public figure, he must be a private figure. If faith steps into the political arena, it becomes a totalitarian argument. Secularism allows all believers and non-believers to live in peace, and that is what we defend.”
