Carlo Petersen
RENOWNED cartoonist Zapiro (Jonathan Shapiro) is “in awe of Charlie Hebdo” newspaper for publishing an illustration of a tearful Prophet Muhammad, holding up a “Je suis Charlie (I am Charlie)” sign accompanied by the words “All is forgiven”, in French, on the cover of its latest edition.
The cartoonist has often taken flak for his work, including a Prophet cartoon of his own. “Enormous perspective is being lost on this issue. The tempering of religious issues should come from religious groups and not from cartoonists and satirists.
“What is happening is that cartoonists are being blamed for people getting murdered and they are now being told that they shouldn’t do that.
“I am in awe of Charlie Hebdo for the courage and tenacity they have shown in publishing that cartoon on their latest edition.
“They have stood by what they believe in and that is freedom of expression.”
Rico Schacherl, of Madam & Eve fame, was not surprised by the magazine’s latest edition, saying people should take the “enigmatic” image in context. “It’s tricky because a lot has to be considered, but that’s a very thoughtful image. I can’t see that cartoon being offensive, although I know it’s not allowed in the Islamic culture,” he said.
“They are artists and some people might not agree with them, but I feel they have every right to do what they did.
“As long as it’s within the limits of the law, but it’s very difficult. It’s not black and white.
“There are things to consider like human rights and freedom of speech, religion, philosophy and legal issues.
“It’s good that people are talking about it, but it should be done on a proper platform and maybe there’s even space to discuss these sorts of things in terms of our constitution.”
Tony Grogan, a doyen of South African cartooning, has taken an ambivalent stance.
“It’s such a complex matter. I stand by freedom of speech, but I don’t agree with the gratuitous insults to what people hold as sacred,” he said.
“I would be careful about drawing an illustration of the Prophet because I know it is a forbidden tradition in their faith.
“One has to ask, though, who decides what is unacceptable and what is acceptable? It’s not necessary to rub up religious people in the wrong way.”
Yesterday’s cover of Charlie Hebdo was met with mixed emotions internationally, with some calling it a bold example of free speech and others criticising it as offensive to Muslims one week to the day after terrorists stormed the satirical French newspaper’s offices and killed 12 people, including four cartoonists.