Chirac asks media to avoid offending religious beliefs

President Jacques Chirac has asked media to avoid offending religious beliefs as a French newspaper today reprinted caricatures of the prophet Mohammed that have sparked violent protests in the Muslim world.

Chirac said during a Cabinet meeting that he condemned “all obvious provocations likely to dangerously kindle passions”.

“Everything that can offend the convictions of others – religious convictions in particular – must be avoided,” the French president said in remarks quoted by government spokesman Jean-Francois Cope.

Earlier today, satirical French weekly paper Charlie-Hebdo reprinted the Mohammed drawings originally published by a Danish newspaper, as well as a new caricature of its own that took up its entire front page.

Under the headline “Mohammed Overwhelmed by the Fundamentalists”, the cover depicted the prophet with his head in his hands, remarking: “It’s hard to be loved by idiots.”