Shock and dismay rippled throughout the world as reports of the Paris terrorist attack were splashed across headlines of various publications and news outlets. No less than a dozen people were killed in the capital city of France Wednesday by two black-clad gunmen, who have since been identified as brothers Cherif Kouachi and Said Kouachi, according to CNN.
What could have prompted such attacks on the staff of the satirical publication? What is it about Charlie Hebdo, or what the magazine did, that could have ignited such a horrendous act?
To help answer these questions, check out these facts about the French newspaper.
The Magazine Started with a Different Name
When it started in 1960, it was called "Hari-Kari Hebdo." However, after it was banned in 1970, the publication returned to business within just a couple of weeks with a new name, which was inspired by the popular "Peanuts" character Charlie Brown. "Hebdo refers to the French word for weekly newspaper, hebdomadaire," ABC News explained.
However, the publication had to stop operations in 1982 due to financial issues. It got revived about 10 years later in 1992, "in its current form."
It Focuses on Things Religious, Governmental, and Generally Popular
The magazine puts the satirical spotlight on "religious, government and popular figures and institutions," as noted by ABC News. It especially taken up things Muslim, including the prophet Mohammed, on its pages within the last decade, earning them the ire of fervent members of the Islamic faith. It is worth noting that such illustrations of the revered religious figure "are strictly prohibited in the Islamic faith," according to The Washington Post.
"In 2006, the magazine republished an infamous Danish cartoon depicting the prophet Mohammed in a special issue. The magazine sold 400,000 copies, but was besieged by threats," ABC News said.
"In 2007, two French Muslim groups sued the newspaper for its decision to publish about a dozen Danish cartoons of Muhammad. The case was rejected in French courts," The Washington Post explained.
This legal triumph, however, encouraged the publication to create more cartoons that poked fun at Islam, which, in turn, fanned the fires of anger among some Muslims.
It Had Been Attacked Before
Charlie Hebdo's offices were firebombed in 2011 after it published an issue with a cover that showed Mohammed dishing out the line, "100 lashes if you are not dying of laughter," The Washington Post recalled. The said attack did not harm anyone, although the premises got destroyed, prompting the publication to move to another location.
Apparently, this attack did not deter the magazine from poking fun at things Muslim. Unfortunately, this led to the untimely demise of some of its staff, including editor Stephane "Charb" Charbonnier.
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