Charlie Hebdo ‘selling out’ across the UK

Demand for the satirical magazine’s controversial new edition, which carries a front-cover cartoon of a crying Prophet Mohammed with the headline “All is Forgiven”, has seen unprecedented demand in wake of the aftermath of last week’s terror attacks in Paris.

More than 1,000 copies are thought to have been made available in the UK, as newsagents braced themselves for a rush.

Outside two French bookshops in South Kensington, London, queues comprising students, French native and urban professionals started forming from as early as 5.45am. There were reports that some had arrived even earlier.

Isabelle LeMarchand, bookshop manager at Librairie la Page, told Channel 4 News that Charlie Hebdo was now a “historical document”.

Buyers included Ros Elwes, a 60-year-old consultant from west London, who told Channel 4 News last week’s events had “brought people together … these people have died because of using the pen to make a point. That simply shouldn’t happen”.

Gwen Rivet, a 24-year-old media executive from Lyon in eastern central France, bought one of the final copies on sale. “This is my contribution to the whole event,” he told Channel 4 News. Conceding the magazine’s arrival could inflame social tensions in Britain he added: “You can’t just be quiet. You have to keep carrying on.”

More demand

The French satirical magazine, which was on the brink of bankruptcy, has seen a symbolic resurgence in wake of last week’s attacks that saw 12 members of staff killed and much of its office destroyed.

A reported five million copies of the magazine are in in the process of being printed, the magazine’s largest-ever run, with translations into English, Spanish and Arabic, and versions available in the UK, Italy and Turkey.

The Guardian, Google and the French government are among those that have donated to bring the magazine back to its feet.

Moritz Riewoldt, from Germany, was one of the customers who arrived at another South Kensington store at 12.20am and was one of the first to emerge with the magazine shortly after 8.15am. The 22-year-old, who lives in Putney, south west London, said: “It’s important to be here to support the freedom of the press. I know what it can mean to a country.

“If you’re scared of saying what you think, I know where this can lead. It’s part of history and you can probably tell your grandchildren that.

“It’s a stick-up to the terrorists to say you’re not going to get us down this easily and make a stand.”

Backlash

But the magazine’s decision to reprint a cover featuring the Prophet Mohammed has left many worried about inflaming community tensions.

Muslim leaders have called on British Muslims who are concerned about the depiction of Mohammed to “remain calm and peaceful”.

“Our reaction must be a reflection of the teachings of the gentle and merciful character of the prophet (peace be upon him,” a 10-point list from the Muslim Council of Britain suggests.

“Enduring patience, tolerance, gentleness and mercy as was the character of our beloved prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is the best and immediate way to respond.”

There were reminders of the deeply divisive debate surrounding freedom of speech versus the right to offend. As the magazine went on sale in the UK, there were clashes in Pakistan, news of which has reverberated around the world.

Protesters in Karachi have thrown stones at police guarding the French consulate. The protesters are thought to belong to the Jamaat-e-Islami religious party which is holding nationwide rallies against the depiction of the prophet Muhammad by the French satirical magazine.

A photographer with French news agency AFP was wounded after being shot during the clashes.

There were reports that Air France offered its passengers a free copy of the latest issue of Charlie Hebdo after buying 20,000 copies of the satirical magazine. The French national carrier placed a stack of the magazines in the departure lounges of both Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports, The Telegraph reported.