Charlie Hebdo's editor Stéphane Charbonnier had always satirically depicted political and religious figures but in recent years he had drawn most condemnation from the Muslim world
Charlie Hebdo's editor Stéphane Charbonnier was among the 10 journalists killed today during an attack on the French newspaper Charlie Hebdo's offices in Paris. Two police officers were also killed in the attack.
Charlie Hebdo's staple is provocation – and it pokes fun at popes, presidents as well as the Prophet Mohammed.
The satirical weekly has a history of drawing outrage across the Muslim world with crude cartoons of Islam's holiest figure.
The magazine's offices were firebombed in November 2011 after it published a spoof issue that "invited" Mohammed to be its guest editor and put his caricature on the cover.
A year later, the magazine published more Mohammed drawings amid an uproar over an anti-Muslim film.
The cartoons depicted Mohammed naked and in demeaning or pornographic poses. As passions raged, the French government defended free speech even as it rebuked Charlie Hebdo for fanning tensions.
The small-circulation weekly leans toward the left and takes pride in making acerbic commentary on world affairs through cartoons and spoof reports.
Charbonnier defended the Muhammad cartoons in 2012. "Mohammed isn't sacred to me," said Charbonnier, who used the pen name Charb. "I don't blame Muslims for not laughing at our drawings. I live under French law. I don't live under Quranic law."
Islam is not alone in being singled out by Charlie Hebdo's satire. Past covers include retired Pope Benedict XVI in amorous embrace with a Vatican guard; former French President Nicolas Sarkozy looking like a sick vampire; and an Orthodox Jew kissing a Nazi soldier.
The magazine occasionally publishes investigative journalism, taking aim at France's high and mighty.
Charlie Hebdo has come under pressure ever since its 2011 Mohammed issue. Its website has been hacked. It faced a lawsuit over the prophet cartoons. Riot police once guarded its offices. Charb lived under police protection – and his bodyguard was killed Wednesday along with another officer.
Charb told Le Monde newspaper two years ago: "I'd rather die standing than live on my knees."
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