Charlie Hebdo's Prophet Mohammed cartoons are causing quite a controversy in France. As a precaution for potential protests, France has issued a travel warning to its citizens in Muslim countries.
France has increased security at some of their embassies after the French magazine published offensive caricatures of Prophet Mohammed. Riot police surrounded the Charlie Hebdo office after the release of the cartoons as it was already firebombed last year when it released an issue that criticized radical Islam.
The new cartoons are based off the U.S. film "Innocence of Muslims," which has sparked extreme protests in Libya, Egypt and other Muslim countries. The movie portrays the Prophet Mohammed as a womanizer, child molester and a fraud, which had angered the Muslim community. Protests in seven countries have resulted in 28 deaths.
Despite these ongoing protests, the French magazine still published the cartoons and the government has defended its decision.
The French Foreign Ministry is warning French people traveling in Muslim countries to stay vigilant. They are advised to avoid public gatherings and certain religious buildings.
The French government and Muslim leaders are encouraging the Muslim community to remain calm. France is home to western Europe's largest Muslim population. The country has banned protests on its own soil, but French Muslims are saying that it's not necessary.
''This is a disgraceful and hateful, useless and stupid provocation,'' Dalil Boubakeur, rector of the Grand Paris Mosque, told The Associated Press. ''We are not like animals of Pavlov to react at each insult.''
Any protests taking place within the country are not authorized. Last Saturday, about 150 protestors surrounded the U.S. Embassy in Paris, which led to several arrests.
"There's no reason for us to let a conflict that doesn't concern France come into our country," Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault told French radio RTL, according to the AP.
Charlie Hebdo, a small weekly publication, is known for drawing attention for its controversial content. In November, they released an issue with the subtitle "Sharia Hebdo," which included caricatures of radical Muslims. The offices were destroyed before the issue even hit newsstands. There is an ongoing investigation of the firebombing of its offices that took place last year.
While protests are being limited in the country, Muslims are considering taking legal action against the magazine.
''People want to create trouble in France. Charlie Hebdo wants to make money on the backs of Muslims,'' Abdallah Zekri, President of the Paris-Based Anti-Islamophobia Observatory told the AP.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
