A copy of Andres Serrano’s 1987 photo “Piss Christ” has been removed from the Associated Press’ image library after conceding Wednesday it violates the media group’s policy against “moving deliberately provocative images.”
The about-face followed the terrorist attack in Paris that claimed the lives of at least 12 people, including 10 employees of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and two police officers. The attack by three Islamic terrorists was prompted by the magazine’s repeated mockery of Islam and the prophet Muhammed.
Following the deadly assault, a number of news organizations circulated a heavily cropped AP photo of Charlie Hebdo’s late news director Stéphane Charbonnier.

Questions regarding the AP’s decision to crop supposedly offensive Charlie Hebdo artwork depicting Muhammed out of the Charbonnier photo prompted the news group to address the issue.
It has been AP’s “policy for years that we refrain from moving deliberately provocative images,” AP’s Erin Madigan told the Washington Examiner.
AP was then asked about its decision to carry photos of Serrano’s provocative “Piss Christ,” an image that has long offended and angered Christians.

“It is fair to say we have revised and reviewed our policies since 1989. We are removing the image in question,” Madigan responded.