Russia Says Mohammed Cartoon Publication Illegal: ‘One Cannot Laugh at the Feelings of the Faithful’

Russia is an overwhelmingly Orthodox Christian country, but is also home to a sizeable Muslim minority

Russia’s media watchdog on Friday warned publications that printing cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed was against the country’s law and ethical norms following the Charlie Hebdo attack in France.

“The publication in Russian media of such caricatures go against ethical and moral norms worked out over centuries.”

“The publication in Russian media of such caricatures go against ethical and moral norms worked out over centuries,” said the media and communications watchdog Roskomnadzor.

“Disseminating caricatures on religious themes in the media can be considered insulting or humiliating to the representatives of religious confessions and groups, and qualified as inciting ethnic and religious hatred.”

— Roskomnadzor, Russia’s media and communications watchdog

The publication would also violate the Russian media and anti-extremism laws, the watchdog said, adding that it was asking Russian media to “refrain from publishing caricatures that can be seen as a violation”.

The watchdog published the statement as a response to the ongoing debate on the “legality of publishing caricatures depicting religious objects of worship which affect feelings of religious people.”

“It further said Charlie Hebdo’s post-attack issue featuring a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed on the front page was an ‘unacceptable response’ to the shooting, because one ‘cannot laugh at the feelings of the faithful’.”

Many newspapers and magazines around the world reprinted cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed by Charlie Hebdo, whose Paris office was attacked by Islamist gunmen on January 7, leading to the deaths of 12 people.

Although Russia’s leadership extended its condolences to France, and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov participated in the unity march staged at the weekend, pro-Kremlin commentators and Muslims accused the cartoonists of provoking the attack.

Russia’s Council of Muftis – a top Muslim authority – condemned the attack, but said that “perhaps the sin of provocation… is no less dangerous for peace than the sin of those who yield to the provocation”.

It further said Charlie Hebdo’s post-attack issue featuring a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed on the front page was an “unacceptable response” to the shooting, because one “cannot laugh at the feelings of the faithful.”

In a letter to Russia’s Prosecutor General, the council chairman and Russia’s top Muslim cleric, Ravil Gainutdin, asked authorities to “take necessary measures to prevent publications that defame the Prophet Mohammed” by monitoring Russian media to verify the prohibition is being respected.

None of Russia’s top papers ran the cartoon, but some included pictures of it on their websites.

Kommersant daily reported a scuffle Thursday in a Moscow mosque…(read more)

France 24

Related articles

• Russian FM says Paris attackers were trained by Syrian opposition (tass.ru)
• Lavrov Claims Kouachi Brothers ‘Fought In Syria’ (rferl.org)
• Lavrov feels Western leaders wish to resume cooperation with Russia on counterterrorism (rbth.co.uk)
• Journalists Criticise Lavrov’s Presence at Charlie Hebdo March in Paris (themoscowtimes.com)
• WATCH LIVE: Paris Holds Giant ‘Unity Rally’ After Attacks (mediaite.com)
• Russian, French Foreign Ministers speak after CharlieHebdo attack (thebricspost.com)
• Lavrov: Charlie Hebdo magazine attackers were members of terrorist organizations in Syria (sana.sy)
• Foreign Leaders March For Free Speech In France, But Not At Home (dailycaller.com)
• Russia says Mohammed (PBUH) cartoon publication illegal (dawn.com)
• Chechen president offers ‘special regiment’ to defend Russia (spacewar.com)