Magazine Front Page Caricature Upsets Christians

Case information
Incident date
Country
France
Categories
  • Social Hostility / Intolerance
Attack Against
  • Faith
  • Morals
Societal Sphere
  • Media
Hate Crime & Violent Incidents
  • Intolerance towards Religious Symbols
Religious Freedom / Discrimination
  • Negative Stereotyping

On the occasion of the resignation of pope Benedict XVI and the conclave in which a new pope ought to be elected, the French magazine, Charlie Hebdo, featured a caricature on its front cover which shows the cardinals engaging in group sex. The words suggest that it is their sexual pleasure which the cardinals mockingly call the Holy Spirit.

The Observatory calls for respect for religious feelings and ask not to deepen the negative stereotype which prevails already with quite a number of people.