The League of Judicial Defence of Muslims (LDJM) brought the suit. Note, however, that no Muslims were actually harmed by Charlie Hebdo, and no Muslims need any defense from it. No Muslims were physically injured; no Muslims lost their jobs; no Muslims were discriminated against or harassed. Some Muslims may be offended by the magazine’s poking fun at the Qur’an and Muhammad, but that is the price of living in a pluralistic society: everyone has to put up with people who have values and priorities that differ from one’s own. Ideally, this can be done in peace, and without one group attempting to assert hegemony over the others. But that is exactly what the League of Judicial Defence of Muslims is trying to do: impose Sharia blasphemy laws upon the rest of France.
“France Satirical Mag Charlie Hebdo Sued by Islamists for ‘Blasphemy,'” by Gianluca Mezzofiore for International Business Times, February 19 (thanks to Bill):
French Islamists have sued satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo for blasphemy in Strasbourg for publishing a cover page with the headline: “The Koran is shit – it doesn’t stop bullets.”
The League of Judicial Defence of Muslims (LDJM) led by former lawyers Karim Achoui, has brought the case before the criminal court in Alsace-Moselle’s capital.
The region, which was annexed by Germany in 1871 and 1940-45, still retained part of the old German code that includes the “blasphemy” crime – which no longer exist in the rest of France.
The LDJM has also sued Charlie Hebdo in Paris for “provocation and incitement to hatred on the basis of religious affiliation and insult”.
A further complication is that Alsace’s blasphemy laws has no redress for Islam, covering only Catholicism, three forms of Protestants and Judaism.
According to Article 166 of the Alsace-Moselle penal code:
He who causes a scandal by publicly blaspheming against God by disparaging or publicly insulting Christian cults or a religious community established in the territory of the Confederation and recognised as a corporation, or institutions or ceremonies of these cults or which, in a church or other place devoted to religious meetings, has committed offensive and outrageous acts, shall be punished with imprisonment of three years.
Charb, director of Charlie Hebdo, said: “We know in advance that the trial will not go through because Islam is not in the code.”
The last application of the blasphemy law in the region dates back to 1918.
However, Eric Sander, secretary general of the Institute of Alsace-Moselle, told Le Monde that according to by-laws “any religion, statutory or otherwise can invoke Article 166 of the local penal code which is independent of system of worship”.
Crime of blasphemy was abolished after the French revolution by article 10 and 11 of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen in 1789. It was reinstated under the Restoration and again deleted by the law of 29 July 1881.
French courts, however, will consider cases that provoke injury, personal and direct attack against a group of people because of their religious affiliation or incitement to racial or religious hatred in cases involving defamation of individuals.
Charlie Hebdo is not new to controversy related to satirical cartoon depicting religious figures.
In November 2011, the paper’s office in Paris was fire-bombed and its website hacked. The attacks were linked to its decision to rename a special edition “Charia Hebdo” (Sharia Hebdo) with the Prophet Mohammed listed as editor-in-chief.
The magazine was attacked by hackers again in September 2012, after it published cartoons caricaturing the Prophet Mohammed.
According to the Muslim tenets, it is offensive to depict Muhammad in any manner. However, Charlie Hebdo’s editor Stephane Charbonnier said at the time that cartoons would “shock those who will want to be shocked,” and claimed the right to freedom of expression.

jihad3tracker says
What a nice picture of our Warrior-In-Chief taking a few minutes away from his 24/7 campaign for truth !!
The French I absorbed in five years of high school French classes has been summoned up to translate Charlie Hebdo.
And ??? It IS a funny magazine. The complete absence of humor in Islam speaks so much about its violent essence. Muslims just cannot understand what an indicator such morbidity is when it is part of a “belief system” .
mortimer says
Absurd. France is ‘particularly committed to the freedom of the press and the protection of journalists. In fact, information professionals are the first victims of restrictions of freedom of expression, notably during periods of armed conflict.’
http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/politique-etrangere-de-la-france/droits-de-l-homme/liberte-d-opinion-et-d-expression/
Hopefully, France will put these words into effect inside France’s own borders and not cowardly permit Islamists to intimidate and threaten journalists removing their rights through the HECKLER’S VETO!
Hopefully, France will be less CRAVEN, WEAK-KNEED and COWARDLY than the UK which regularly gives into to TOTALITARIAN, DESPOTIC ISLAMISM!
Ian says
More fuel for Marine Le Pen-eventually France will blow-currently at the top of the list for kick off of a pan European conflict
john spielman says
well, if Charlie Hebdo can be sued for ” blasphemy ‘ them the muslim group LDJM can be sued for blasphemy as well, because Islam is blasphemy against the Word of God, specifically in not acknowledging Jesus as the only Son of God. Islam is an antichrist doctrine of demons and anyone who denies Jesus as the incanrnation of the one and only God is an antichrist (IJohn)
Salah says
Merci, Charlie Hebdo!
http://crossmuslims.blogspot.ca/2012/09/merci-charlie-hebdo.html
Charli Main says
The Muslims have already won the war to eliminate ANY criticism of Islam or Muslims in Britain, thanks to the infestation of Muslim huggers in the British Legal and Parliamentary systems.
Muslims can rampage down British streets praising the murder of British soldiers and declaring that British laws don´t apply to them, but God help the Christian, Hindu, Sikh or Jew that expresses any concern about Muslim activities in the Country.
The boys and girls in blue will be smashing their doors down and showing them the inside of the local 6×6 for insulting the perfect religion and its perfect followers.
Chris Mullans says
What a defiant cover, love it!
Dess says
This is simple. If it goes ahead then just produce a copy of the Koran detailing the horror it wishes to subject Christians, Jews and unbelievers.
“Your Honor, if Charlie Hebo is to be censored then so too should the Koran”.
Buraq says
Got a problem? Cherchez l’Islam!
Clowns!
Henry says
When are we going to see the Qur’an in the dock for hate speech and incitement to violence and murder?
gravenimage says
France: Muslims sue satirical mag Charlie Hebdo for blasphemy
…Some Muslims may be offended by the magazine’s poking fun at the Qur’an and Muhammad, but that is the price of living in a pluralistic society…
…………………………………
Of course, pious Muslims don’t want France—or anywhere else—to be a pluralistic society. They want to impose Shari’ah norms wherever they can, and “blasphemy” strictures head the list.
More:
The League of Judicial Defence of Muslims (LDJM) led by former lawyers Karim Achoui, has brought the case before the criminal court in Alsace-Moselle’s capital.
…………………………………
As noted, this really has nothing to do with the “defense of Muslims”, since no Muslims were harmed—instead, it has everything to do with the “defense of Islam”.
And part of the “defense of Islam” is censoring any criticism or even questioning of that foul creed.
And in Alsace, Muslims are trying to use a very old French law. This should not surprise—pious Muslims are more than happy to use Infidel “hate speech” laws and whatever else they can twist in the short term. The ultimate aim, of course, is to replace any such Infidel laws with Shari’ah.
But France—and the rest of the West—isn’t there yet. We can still fight.
I say Bravo, Charlie Hebdo! May they easily triumph over the latest Mohammedan attempt to shut them down.
citycat says
The free speech bomb, ha ha.
Islam kills what it cannot control, free thought, free soul, free sex, now it attempts to control free speech that is now Islam’s enemy more, now that chat is world wide. Let it float free where Islam can’t touch it.
When the under pressure blows i should think that most English people might not hug Muslims.
Naruq says
Hi,
I would encourage everyone to read this link and especially the comments. 99% of the respondents are muslim…it will give you a deep insight into the cognitive dissonance at play.
The author and a lot of the respondents still cling to the Quran…little knowing what is within it. Read and gain from it what you will of what is happening ‘under the covers’ in the milder side of the muslim world…
https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6837597152027639367&postID=8102117826448206704
p.s. Looks like they might know it’s a nasty farce.
Champ says
FREEDOM!!! …the f-word to mohammedan SOA’S, lol!
Şįmoŋę Şįmmoŋş says
Again?
Bettina says
“Anyone who denies Jesus as the incanrnation of the one and only God is an antichrist.”
As a Jew, I never knew I was an anti-Christ, or an anti-anything, for that matter. Thanks for setting me straight, Spielman!
Joel says
Bettina,
as a Fellow Jew, I agree. That (Speilman and others like him) turn people against Christians, and others.
In some ways, IN MY OPINION ( a friend once said , to me, “opinions are like an anal pore–if one doesn’t have one, and use, one gets full of —–“)., these people ARE ALMOST AS OBNOXIOUS AS MUSLIMS– THE” AGREE WITH ME, OR YOU ARE WRONG.: attitude.
Bettina says
I liked the idea of putting Islam “on the dock” as Dess and Henry suggest. All that’s needed is an A-team of lawyers to sue and run for their lives.
John Spielman says
Dear Bettina: At least the New Testament does not allow violence against ANYONE unlike the qu’ran.
PS the best explanation of Jesus being the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophesies regarding messiah is in the Letter to the Hebrews(also known as Hebrews) in New Testament . I, being a Gentile believer,am grateful and steadfast supporter of Israel and Jews as being God’s chosen people to make Himself known.
Bettina says
Point taken, John. I’ll try not to take it personally when fundamentalist Christians push the idea that an anti-Christ is anyone who doesn’t worship him as they do.
We Jewish people have never held any animosity toward Jesus, regardless of how the Crusades, the Inquisition, countless European pogroms, and other anti-Semitic manifestations treated the Jews.
We’ve always known that, while Christianity is a religion of peace, many of those professing to be its adherents had their own anti-Semitic agendas, and never deserved the honor of counting themselves as Christians.
I should think that if you were looking for the perfect anti-Christ, the cursed evil one would be Hitler.
Jay Boo says
NOT OFFENSIVE AT ALL
At first glance it might seem that a Muslim would find this very offensive.
Admittedly the literal translation into English appears to be a harsh mockery of Islam.
It is not easy to say for certain but, in this context the writers appear to merely be calling the Quran a bunch of crap not the “S” word so there is really no reason for anyone to get excited since the are merely repeating common knowledge.
CRAP is not such a bad word especially when referring to the vulgar five letter word that begins with “I” and ends with “M”
It is all just a cultural misunderstanding.
dumbledoresarmy says
That cover is really very clever, in all sorts of ways.
Well done, Charlie Hebdo!
Nonbeliever says
Who can we sue for the existence of Islam?
Islam causes me severe emotional distress. Can we put together a class-action lawsuit for damages?
London Jim says
Although I’m not into litigation culture, per se, with you on that one, Nonbeliever.
veggiedog says
The French will cave.
gravenimage says
veggiedog wrote:
The French will cave.
……………………………
Charlie Hebdo won’t. They’ve had their offices firebombed and had myriad death threats to their editors, artists, and staff, and *they* haven’t backed down at all. They *continue* to mock Islam.
If anything gives me hope for France it is the brave wags at Charlie Hebdo. Vive la France!
tesa says
now thats funny,lol ,now lets hope it doesn’t go screaming over our pollies collective heads.
gravenimage says
I love the picture accompanying this story on the Jihad Watch home page of Robert Spencer enjoying a copy of Charlie Hebdo!
RodSerling says
Re Dess’ and Henry’s suggestion, we won’t see any kind of legal banning or censoring of the Qur’an in the West, because in the West religious scriptures are legally protected from the normal standards. Religious texts can directly order or permit followers to commit rape, murder, genocide, treason–you name it–with complete immunity from the law. Until these laws are changed, and religious scriptures are treated like any other texts, nothing can be done about the Qur’an. That said, it may be useful to attempt a kind of Western version of the Calcutta Quran Petition, to help educate the public about both the threat of Islam and the unfair laws protecting religious texts–laws which protect the Old Testament for example but which are also massively enabling Islam in the West.
Simon Shepherd says
Silver Flying Armadillo. Can I use that as my superhero name?
Guy Macher says
A law suit by barbaric perverts just because a civilized man called a spade a spade?
I suppose if I call Mohamed a pedophile and Allah, Satan, Muslims will be upset by that, too. You can’t these troglodytes!