Maged Shebaita

Charlie Hebdo Mockery Drawings from Islam and Freedom of Expression Maged Shebaita

Charlie Hebdo the famous French magazine published a mockery drawings from the Prophet Mohammed- the Prophet of Islam -followed by massive anger all over the Islamic world and even in other European countries calling to boycott all the French goods on the ground that such drawings defamed and affronted the messenger of Islam. On the other side the French President French President Emmanuel Macron has defended the decision by Charlie Hebdo magazine to re-publish offensive caricatures of Islam's Prophet Muhammad, saying "we've freedom of expression, and freedom of belief", which led to more stronger controversy with other leaders in the world . In this article I will clarify whether such caricatures can be considered as freedom of expression or merely offensive drawings and not covered by the protection of the freedom of expression. In this article I will examine the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) which entered into force on 3 Sep 1953 and ratified by France.