French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo will publish 1 million copies of its latest edition next week, the publication’s lawyer vowed Thursday.
Still reeling from the horrors of a terrorist attack this week that claimed the lives of 10 of its journalists, Charlie Hebdo will be aided in its publishing goal by three of France’s biggest media conglomerates: Groupe Le Monde, which owns the French newspaper Le Monde, Radio France and France Televisions.
The media groups announced Thursday that they will offer the troubled magazine manpower and equipment as it recovers from its losses, Radio France’s Mathieu Gallet, Groupe Le Monde’s Louis Dreyfuss and France Televisions Remy Pflimlin said in a statement released Thursday.
“Faced with horror, Radio France, Le Monde and France Televisions announce they are willing to provide Charlie Hebdo and its team with as much human and material resources as necessary to ensure Charlie Hebdo continues to stand,” the statement said.
The statement encourages additional media groups in France to join in the effort to resuscitate Charlie Hebdo and “preserve the principles of editorial independence and freedom of thought — principles that are fundamental to our democracy.”
The attack on Charlie Hebdo, which also claimed the lives of two police officers, was likely launched in response to the magazine’s repeated mockery of Islam.
Charlie Hebdo columnist Patrick Pelloux said that the attack occurred as the magazine’s editors met to discuss an upcoming issue dealing with racism.
“They were extraordinary men and women,” Pelloux said in an interview. “They were killed during a meeting discussing a conference on the fight against racism. Voilà.”
“We are all suffering, with grief, with fear,” he said, “but we will do it anyway because stupidity will not win.”
The average circulation for the magazine is estimated to be at around 45,000 copies.
