The killings at the French satirical weekly magazine office of Charlie Hebdo appear to be motivated due to the magazine’s publication of cartons of Prophet Mohammed. People being killed for blasphemy have a history of more than 400 years especially in Europe. Contrary to the Western cultures, Islam avoids depiction of Prophet Mohammed. The magazine not only violated the Islam but also insulted Prophet Mohammed through its depiction of cartoons. Charlie Hebdo publishing director, editor and cartoonist Stephane Charbonnier was on the al-Qaeda hit list for years and the French government provided police protection for him until his brutal death.
On Wednesday morning of January 7, 2015, two French Muslim brothers of Algerian descent forced their way into the offices of Charlie Hebdo and killed 11 people including the publishing director and wounded several others. According to published reports gunmen shouted “Allah Akbar” in Arabic meaning “God is great” or “Prophet is avenged” during the shooting. On their way out they also killed a wounded police officer bringing the total killed to 12. Gunmen are known to the police and considered as Jihadists who got foreign training. The office of the magazine was also targeted in an attack in 2011.