Mohammed cartoon, Charlie Hebdo, Egypt Islamic Authority

The latest Mohammed cartoon by Charlie Hebdo, which was published on Wednesday, has been condemned by the Egypt Islamic Authority which has called it a provocation. According to a statement by the Dar al-Ifta “This action is an unjustified provocation against the feelings of 1.5 billion Muslims. This (magazine) edition will result in a new wave of hatred in French and Western society. What the magazine is doing does not serve co-existence and the cultural dialogue Muslims aspire to.” The statement continued by saying “We call on all Muslims not to participate in violence. We denounce violence and respect freedom of opinion. But the other side has to understand that we love the Prophet Mohammed.” In Egypt it is a criminal offense to portray or even make a derogatory remark or inference about the prophet Mohammed.

The statement against the latest Charlie Hebdo Mohammed cartoon by the Egypt Islamic Authority called the Dar al-Ifta represents the mufti, which is the official Islamic law interpreter for the government. The statement condemning the latest publication by the Charlie Hebdo publication has caused many Muslims to be offended, but freedom of speech and the free exchange of ideals is treasured in Western society. Both sides will continue to clash because neither side will give an inch. Ordinary Muslims may be offended by the Mohammed cartoon but they do not imagine perpetrating violence over it, and the radical extremists will find any freedom offensive and fight against it using terrorism. Most of the world comes down on the side of Charlie Hebdo and the freedom to be satirical against anything viewed as unjust or revered.