Charlie Hebdo: Rethinking the French satire magazine’s legacy as a symbol of free speech

In January 2015, 12 people were killed at the French satirist magazine Charlie Hebdo’s office after it published controversial caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad. Ten years later, the tragic events continue to resonate in global conversations about limits to the freedom of expression.

The attacks led to an outpouring of public sympathy for the victims, summed up by the slogan “Je suis Charlie” – “I am Charlie.” This slogan became a symbol of solidarity and declared support for freedom of expression and France’s tradition of using satire in art and media.

Since then, Charlie Hebdo has been framed as a universal symbol of freedom of speech. Yet, for others – especially French Muslims – the magazine represented the reinforcement of racial and religious stereotypes under the guise of satire.

As a scholar who studies secularism in Europe, I argue that communities’ reactions to satire are deeply influenced by factors such as religious marginalisation, political exclusion and cultural tensions.

The attack was a horrific act of violence that cannot be justified. However, the discussions that followed often overlooked the ways in which the magazine’s caricatures perpetuated racist stereotypes – particularly against Muslims, who occupy a precarious position in French society.

Punch up, not down

The underlying question of satire’s ethical limits lies in its relationship to power. At its best, satire critiques authority,…

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