Charlie Hebdo Weighs In On the Refugee Crisis

Never one to sit back and let a global event be presented through a single perspective, Charlie Hebdo has once again stirred the pot this week.

In January, the Paris-based satirical magazine saw 12 of its staff murdered in an attack by extremists in response to its depictions of Muhammad. The first issue following the attack defiantly published another illustration of the prophet on the front page. Now the enfant terrible of the French press has once again exercised its right to free expression to the maximum this week, with an interpretation of the refugee crisis.

The latest issue contains sketches based on the photograph of Aylan Kurdi, a Syrian child whose body washed up on the Turkish shore following his family’s attempt to cross into Europe.

Captioned with “So close to making it,” one of the drawings courts further controversy by taking aim at the response to the crisis by Western governments. As reported in the New York Times, the editorial introduction to the latest Charlie Hebdo issue claims that the cartoon is aimed at “the hypocritical response to the crisis by European leaders and the public.”

Indeed, the quote: “The proof that Europe is Christian (La prevue que l’Europe est Chrétienne),” is in response to Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Oban, who claimed that the influx of Muslim refugees could undermine “efforts to keep Europe Christian.” This is accompanied by the phrases “Christians walk on water (Les Chrétiens marchent sur les eaux)” and “Muslim children sink (Les enfants Musulmans coulent).”

The second sketch portrays a child’s body, washed up on the beach, in the foreground of a McDonald’s billboard, advertising “two children’s meals for the price of one (2 menus enfant pour le prix d’un)”. It’s shows the glaring disparity between the unrest, the poverty and the dire conditions that have come about as a result of civil war, and the mass consumerism that has run riot in recent years across most of Europe.

The issue has rejuvenated the debate on appropriate use of Freedom of Speech, with many voicing their disapproval on what some consider an unjustifiable inflammatory action. Some even expressed their repentance for supporting the magazine in the wake of the events in January:

I regret #JeSuisCharlie, when I see how they treat death of toddler #AylanKurdi. #CharlieHebdo is Disgrace & Racism! pic.twitter.com/vkHV6hEh9B

— A K M Wahiduzzaman (@Wahiduzzaman21) September 16, 2015

Editorial cartoons for dummies RT @bonnetdAM: #CharlieHebdo pic.twitter.com/uzqw2ff2xq

— X_inParis (@X_in_Paris) September 16, 2015

https://twitter.com/tayyabamalik47/status/644189941543469056

There were of course, those who leapt to the defense of Charlie Hebdo and its right to free speech:

Well said: "I admire #CharlieHebdo for their humanity,their openness, their convictions and their talent." https://t.co/vFBWOYUfAO

— Je reste Charlie (@ResteCharlie) September 16, 2015

https://twitter.com/Glinner/status/644058147703922688

It seems that once again, Charlie Hebdo has fallen victim to its own practice of satire. The very nature of satire, of parody, of caricature, is to ignite opinions, with emphasis on offending sensitive opinions.

It’s this author’s opinion that these cartoons are not drawn in ignorance or racism. They are drawn with empathy for the people who have been let down by those who have the capability, and arguably the responsibility, to do something about their plight.