In defending his choice to publish the caricatures of the prophet Mohammed, Stéphane Charbonnier,better known as Charb, wrote, in reference to the massive street demonstrations against the drawings: “It is not my drawings which provoke deaths but those who take to the streets.

“It reminds me somewhat of the case of the raped woman who is accused because she was wearing a miniskirt. We have the same feeling. We are constantly accused of being in a miniskirt when there is a madman stalking the area.

“The expression of anger does not come from our side.”

This quote has travelled around Facebook since the horrific mass murder that occurred in Paris.

On a personal level, I did not appreciate the French weekly newspaper’s decision to publish the caricatures of the prophet Mohammed in 2007. However, I categorically condemn the vile murderers who, in order to perpetrate attention-seeking criminal acts, abuse the name of Allah.

God is understood and worshipped in different ways by millions of peaceable Muslims, Christians and Jews who are men and women of goodwill. Other men and women of goodwill reject the idea of God. I disagree with the positions assumed by an atheist, non-islamophobic newspaper, but I will defend its right to express itself.

Religious tolerance and respect is a tangible sign of peace. Men of goodwill can peaceably live together while not following the same beliefs.

I have great respect for Muslim religious tolerance, which was demonstrated concretely in difficult times. During the Tunisian revolution, all Christian churches, whether Catholic, Protestant or Orthodox, were protected in order to ensure that the Christian communities living in Tunisia could attend Mass and other religious functions.

Heinous crimes such as those that occurred in Paris provoke shock and anger. However, anger must be directed at the perpetrators and not at the millions of peaceful and tolerant religious believers.

At this time, let our focus be on remembering the dead and mourning with their families and country.

“Je suis Charlie.”

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