Thursday, January 22, 2015
Hard-Line Iranian Weekly Welcomes 'Blessed' Charlie Hebdo Massacre
Mohabat News -
On its front page, Ya Lesarat al-Hossein, the official publication of
Iran's Ansar-e Hizbullah plain clothes militia, has congratulated
Muslims on the January 8 attack while claiming that that the
assassination of staff and police officers on the premises of the
satirical French magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris was the enforcement of
the "legitimate punishment" of those who insult Prophet Muhammad.
"Thousands
of congratulations to the nation of Muhammad," the hard-line
publication wrote on its front page, which features a picture of a
bouquet of pink flowers.
The main
headline, in red, is a poem that expresses joy over the Paris killings
and says that the "enemy that insulted Prophet Muhammad" was sent to the
grave.
One of the subheadlines
writes that the implementation of the 'blessed' punishment against those
insulting the Prophet of Islam has nothing to do with terrorism and the
militant group Islamic State.
Another
subheadline condemns the "passive reaction" by Iran's President Hassan
Rohani regarding the alleged insult against Muhammad and "misleading
coverage" by state television.
The
stance by the hard-line group, which has been involved in a state
crackdown on dissidents and opposition members, goes against the
official line of the Islamic republic regarding the attack.
Tehran
has condemned the assault on the Paris publication that left 12 dead,
including 5 cartoonists, while also criticizing what it has termed the
misuse of freedom of expression "to humiliate monotheistic religions."
Speaking
on January 9, Rohani denounced violence in the name of Islam and said
that those who carry out violent attacks in the name of religion provoke
"Islamophobia."
So far, the joyful
and welcoming stance of Ya Lesarat al-Hossein regarding the violence in
Paris, which also claimed the lives of five other people besides those
who died at Charlie Hebdo's offices, has not been publicly denounced by
Iranian officials.
But there's a been
string of condemnation and calls for action against Mardom-e Emrouz
over its January 13 cover page featuring Clooney, who at the Golden
Globe Awards voiced solidarity with the victims of the Paris attacks
while wearing a "Je Suis Charlie" badge on his tuxedo.
The daily also published Clooney's comments.
"Millions
marched not only in Paris but all around the world, and there were
Christians and Jews and Muslims, leaders of countries all over the
world, they didn't march in protest, they marched in support of the idea
that we will not walk in fear. Je suis Charlie," Clooney said.
Hard-liners
say they are angered that the daily covered Clooney's remarks on its
front page without offering context regarding the "insulting" and
"disrespectful" cartoons by Charlie Hebdo. They claim that the coverage
suggest that Mardom-e Emrouz is supportive of the French weekly.
Iranian
media report that some 70 lawmakers have already signed a complaint
against the daily and called for harsh measures against it.
In
an interview with the Fars news agency, lawmaker Zohreh Tabibzadeh
accused Mardom-e Emrouz of having followed the same line as Charlie
Hebdo. The weekly has been accused of insulting Muhammad in several of
its cartoons, including on its latest cover, the first since the attack
that hit the newsstands on January 14. The cover features Muhammad who
is shedding tears while holding a sign that says "Je Suis Charlie" under
the headline in French, which says "All Is Forgiven."
The cartoon has been condemned by Tehran as "insulting" and "provocative."
Tabibzadeh
warned that the lack of "decisive action" against the moderate Iranian
daily would result in the impeachment of Iran's Culture Minister.
Jahannews
meanwhile, said that Mardom-e Emrouz's front page could suggest that
the daily has joined the ranks of those insulting Muhammad. The news
website said the country's Press Supervisory Board should react to such
moves.
In an interview with Fars,
Mardom-e Emrouz editor in chief Mohammad Ghochani defended its January
13 front page by saying that it was published before Charlie Hebdo
repeated its "wrongful" action and printed another "insulting" cartoon.
Ghouchani
was quoted by the hard-line news agency as saying that his paper will
express its stance about the latest cartoon by Charlie Hebdo in its new
issue.
Most Iranian media have condemned the deadly attack in Paris while also criticizing Charlie Hebdo for mocking Prophet Muhammad.
Some
Iranians, including a number of journalists and intellectuals based in
the country, have expressed online solidarity with Charlie Hebdo.
On
January 8, Iranian authorities prevented a group of journalists from
holding a vigil for the victims of the attack on the French weekly./Radio Farda
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