The award from the PEN American Center comes two days after two gunmen opened fire at a Texas exhibit of caricatures of the Prophet Mohammad, depictions that Muslims consider offensive.
Drawings of the prophet Muhammad were also at the heart of the January attack on Charlie Hebdo's Paris offices that killed 12 people. Al Qaeda's branch in Yemen claimed responsibility for the attack, saying the weekly had insulted the Prophet with its cartoons.
PEN's decision to give the Freedom of Expression Courage Award to Charlie Hebdo prompted six prominent writers to withdraw from the event and more than 100 others to write a letter of protest, said PEN, an organization advocating on behalf of writers persecuted because of their work.
One novelist who withdrew, Rachel Kushner, said she was not comfortable with Charlie Hebdo's "cultural intolerance," PEN said
The attack has raised questions about religious tolerance and censorship in France, which has 5 million Muslims.
Police and federal agents planned security for months ahead of the Texas event on Sunday, and the two gunmen were killed after opening fire in a parking lot outside the exhibit.
PEN organizers said security would be "increased" at Tuesday's event.
A spokeswoman for the New York Police Department said there had been no immediate threats.
25 comments:
No concern of mine. Linda take note!
In as much as I don't support such attacks, the western media should try to respect the faith people cherish.
In a very cruel and unfair world, religion is all some people got and they hold it so dear.
Such jokes shouldn't be promoted, our world has suffered enough violence already.
~BONARIO~says so via NOKIA LUMIA
It's neededd cuz these Mus.... *letmeNotTalk*
OK.They don try
Hmmm ndia na acho nsogbu ndi na akpo isi ala oh
OK. Seen
Nice one guys
Let charlie hebdo just respect peoples values especially religion as Muslims are very sensitive to such ridicule don't cross d line not avmuslim but d sinking of d ship is not meant to be funny either
Ok oooooooooo
Everytyn is offensive for dis muslims xcept d ones done by dem...blood suckers
Ok
Ok noted
I hope on dr way to New York Charlie Hebdo cartoonists will not drown and assemble at the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea, like they cartooned the Africans who lost dr lives in same sea.
whyyy whyyy, cant they send the plaque over to franch
whyyy whyyy, cant they send the plaque over to France ?
They claim to be Anti - Jihad yet insult the Prophet Mohammed thereby insulting Islam and all Muslims. If they are anti Jihad and not anti Islam then why not make insultive caricatures of Jihad leaders and Not the prophet. And I'm a Christian.
They should be careful to avoid an attack.
U guys all. Said well except some. U all see they started D Trouble. This westerners always start it after the blame will be on the Muslims. They themselves knw thr will be a Negative Reaction to This. Stupid Humans
Who cares,not Mi business pls
Okay
I don't think this is right oh! You can't honor people who dishonor other people especially their beliefs. And even if they wanted to not so openly.
Bonario is right. People should learn to respect each others religion.
@Bonario Nnags.
I quite agree with you. I also really do not understand why this man should be celebrated.
Disrespecting others faith, beliefs or religion is just plain rude and uncouth. It also breeds anger, resentment and, at the extreme, hatred, as well as creating an endless cycle of all three and igniting a raging violence difficult to control or stamp out.
Unfortunately we tend to believe our own beliefs are superior to the other person's.
Being Christian does not make anyone superior to another, nor does being Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Bhuddist or Atheist.
We are all humans - we bleed when cut, we die when killed.
Can we not just learn to respect and care about each other?
Good for him
Good for him
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