Charlie Hebdo Says Iran's Threats For Caricatures Show Weakness
The French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in a note in Farsi called the Islamic Republic's threats an indication of the weakness of the religious dictatorship in Iran.
The French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in a note in Farsi called the Islamic Republic's threats an indication of the weakness of the religious dictatorship in Iran.
The magazine last week published caricatures depicting Iran’s 83-year-old authoritarian ruler Ali Khamenei, which immediately prompted official protests to the French government and threats against the publications.
Asserting that it will publish more cartoons of Iran’s clerics, Charlie Hebdo wrote “The mullahs aren't happy. The caricatures of their supreme leader... do not seem to have made them laugh," the paper's editor, known as "Riss" wrote Tuesday.
"It is an honor in one sense, but above all proves that they feel their power is very fragile," added Riss.
The satirical magazine was hit by a cyber-attack after publishing the caricatures.
"A digital attack doesn't leave anyone dead, but it sets the tone. The mullah's regime feels in such danger that it considers it vital to its existence to hack the website of a French newspaper," noted Riss.
Hossein Salami, Commander of the Revolutionary Guard, threatened the staff of the French magazine with revenge on Tuesday.
"Sooner or later, Muslims will take revenge and you may arrest the avengers, but the dead will not rise again,” said Salami.
Earlier, Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian called the publication of Khamenei's caricatures "an insult to the sanctities", claiming that the Israeli "lobby" was behind the move.
Some government officials and groups in different countries have condemned the threats and called for more pressure against the Iranian regime.
