‘Charlie Hebdo’ First Cover Since Attack Sends Clear Message [Video]

The first Charlie Hebdo cover since the horrendous and tragic attack last week that left twelve people dead is ready to distribute. Those at the satirical magazine had been receiving death threats for years due to their frequent depiction of Islam prophet Muhammad. Though the staff did not seem afraid of an attack, editor Stephane Charbonnier, known as Charb, retained the protection of officer Lt. Franck Brinsolaro. Though he attempted to thwart the attack, he was gunned down with those he sought to protect.

The magazine has not missed a beat. If the Islamic brothers who launched the attack believed they would stop the appearance of Muhammad on the cover and within the pages of Charlie Hebdo, they were wrong. In fact, they may only have fueled the fire. This first cover since the attack shows the world that they are not afraid, and will not be silenced even with online death threats already flowing in for the surviving staff. Muhammad is once again displayed on the cover, with a tear on his cheek, holding a sign that reads “Je Suis Charlie,” which means “I am Charlie.” The headline at the top states “All is Forgiven.” According to the New York Times, the magazine presenting the first cover since the attack will be in great demand. Normally, Charlie Hebdo prints around 60,000 copies, but for this first cover, the number was increased to around 3 million.

This video from Fox News gives us valuable information on the first cover after the vicious attack.

The offer of forgiveness is genuine. The Guardian reports that staff member Zineb El Rhazoui, whose work contributed to this first post-attack cover, says the cover is a call to forgive the gunmen who murdered her coworkers.

“We don’t feel any hate to them. We know that the struggle is not with them as people, but the struggle is with an ideology.”

“We feel that we have to forgive what happened. I think those who have been killed, if they would have been able to have a coffee today with the terrorists and just talk to ask them why have they done this … We feel at the Charlie Hebdo team that we need to forgive.”

“The two terrorists who killed our colleagues, we cannot feel any hate … The mobilization that happened in France after this horrible crime must open the door to forgiveness. Everyone must think about this forgiveness.”

The cover image was drawn by cartoonist Renald Luzier, otherwise known as Luz. He also created the cover showing another drawing of Muhammad three years ago. Shortly after, the office was firebombed. Luz believes in the right to free speech, and refuses to back down.

“We will not give in otherwise all this won’t have meant anything.”

Do you think Charlie Hebdo made a wise decision with the new cover, so soon after the attack? Why or why not?

[Image via Fox News]