Joan Burton and Islamic cleric Dr Ali Selim clash over media use of cartoons

Tánaiste Joan Burton and a leading Islamic cleric are at odds over whether the Irish media has the right to show controversial cartoons featuring the prophet Muhammad in the wake of the Paris massacre.

The Labour leader insisted it was up to media outlets to decide how to handle the matter and she would not tell journalists how to do their jobs as she stressed the need for a free press in the aftermath of the attack on the offices of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo which left 12 people dead.

The comments were in contrast to Dr Ali Selim, spokesman at the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland, who warned showing such depictions of the prophet would be wrong.