OIC plans to sue French magazine

E-Paper | March 18, 2026

RIYADH: The Jeddah-based Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) plans to sue the French magazine, Charlie Hebdo, for publishing controversial cartoons, Secretary General Mr Iyad Madani told the local press.

“OIC is studying European and French laws and other available procedures to be able to take legal action against Charlie Hebdo,” Madani has been quoted as saying. “If French laws allow us to take legal procedures against Charlie Hebdo; OIC will not hesitate to prosecute the French magazine,” he said.

Also read: Freedom of speech has its limits, says pope

“These cartoons have hurt the sentiments of Muslims across the world. Freedom of speech must not become a hate speech and must not offend others. No sane person, irrespective of doctrine, religion or faith, accepts his beliefs being ridiculed”, a comment on Mr Madani’s twitter account said.

Published in Dawn, January 19th, 2015

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Man From Uncle

Jan 19, 2015 06:17am

OIC can give PM Nawaz a head job by the grace of God.

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s.Malik

Jan 19, 2015 06:36am

Right thing to do, it will be much better than public demonstrations or supporting any killer.

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peace

Jan 19, 2015 06:45am

Good. Freedom of speech does not mean " hate freedom".

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Cynical

Jan 19, 2015 07:03am

This is not the first time, did OIC just wake up?

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Maqs

Jan 19, 2015 07:03am

Finally the affluent Muslims brainstorm and take a stand! Whatever the political incentive....Better late than never!

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Raja

Jan 19, 2015 07:10am

All Muslim countries MUST unite and protest with ONE voice.

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jawad

Jan 19, 2015 07:13am

France will suffer more if they dont stop printing cartoons of prophet

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GOD

Jan 19, 2015 07:18am

Excellent Idea! You need to teach Kafirs a lessons

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dawn

Jan 19, 2015 07:28am

Very late-but go get them. This magazine should be shut down.

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OneMoreThing

Jan 19, 2015 07:34am

A storm in a teacup. Forget and move on. You've got bigger problems than this. Try and not look anymore ridiculous to the world than you already do.

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saleem

Jan 19, 2015 07:45am

should spend money to eradicate rampant poverty, education and health systems

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wiserneighbour

Jan 19, 2015 07:56am

If you go on a collision course with west,that is going to really hurt OIC. many countries are oil producing and the key tech providers are the west.Without them they are a piece of barren land.If they withhold technology,equipment or spares,this muscle flexing will end up in pathetic moaning.

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wiserneighbour

Jan 19, 2015 08:00am

@GOD unfortunately you gave been teaching lessons to your own . Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, Libya, Iraq, the list goes on..

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Bachabassi

Jan 19, 2015 08:25am

What about stop going to these western countries, that sure will teach them a good lesson.

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Ahmed

Jan 19, 2015 08:30am

This is just an exercise by OIC to divert people attention from the issue. How can these people who are puppets of west can speak against them. If OIC is so sincere, it should ask its members to boycott all French products.

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Tarannum S.

Jan 19, 2015 08:35am

READ is the first word. However, I would have been happier if the OIC had taken some step to condemn the militants who gunned down the journalists. Taking action against Charlie Hebdo, which has already suffered in the hands of the terrorists, seem like a support to KILLING, which is so un-Islamic. Pathetic these guys are.

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rahul

Jan 19, 2015 08:46am

The problem with your society is that you people are offended way too easily and your only answer is to resort to killing. You have to understand that the western countries like to joke around a lot. Even on sensitive issues like religion. They even make cartoons about Christianity and Judaism. But you don't see jews and Christians going around killing everyone do you???

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Chi ben

Jan 19, 2015 09:01am

Bad advisers. Short-sighted vision. Though chance of winning any legal battle is ZERO percent, but even if you win Mr. Madani, the exposure it will give and REVERSE fundamentalism it will bring towards Muslims will be uncontrollable by any force. Think before going for appeasing statements and raising expectations of the gullibles.

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Chi ben

Jan 19, 2015 09:02am

@jawad , France will not suffer at all. Stop living in dreamland. Western world thinks and lives 50 years ahead of us. Never start a war that one cannot finish.

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Manu Sharma USA

Jan 19, 2015 09:13am

does any one care about these thieves?

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Anonymous

Jan 19, 2015 09:14am

OH ! I SEE.....

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NASR

Jan 19, 2015 09:33am

@peace And So Free Speech Also Allows to Hate Freedom. Isn't it?

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Sharma Pandey

Jan 19, 2015 09:38am

I still wonder why HOLOCAUST DENIAL is still considered a "criminal offence" in WEST if they truely believe in "freedom of speech" ops, its "selective freedom OR Target Killing". Can you believe going to jail on denying Holocaust!

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Chanakya

Jan 19, 2015 09:38am

This the right step to be taken.

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kashif

Jan 19, 2015 09:43am

Noted....and what are OIC's other plans besides this.

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AMER RAO

Jan 19, 2015 09:44am

Just pull your investments for one year.

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Syeda Ali

Jan 19, 2015 09:53am

Don't speak too loudly without consulting your real Lord, America

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Em Moosa

Jan 19, 2015 10:03am

Oh I see.

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JUSTICE

Jan 19, 2015 10:11am

OIC does not have any power, If you look their past achievements, they have failed to take action against west, this time is no difference, after few weeks their response will be "OHH I SEE" we can't do anything.

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rob

Jan 19, 2015 10:11am

Well, the Saudi and all those wahhabi regimes should also be hauled in front of the ICH for crimes against humanity!

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Vivek

Jan 19, 2015 10:13am

How many lawsuits will be needed against Islamic countries for violation of basic human rights of muslims and non-muslims ?

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Sumit Mazumdar

Jan 19, 2015 10:17am

And what will the OIC do about the Saudi blogger Raif Badawi, who was handed 10 years of imprisonment and 1000 lashes for simply wanting a secular Saudi Arabia? What does the OIC think of such inhuman punishment, or the fact the court increased the punishment because Badawi dared to appeal the first verdict (6ys anf 600 lashes)? Certainly we expect the OIC to take up the case of Badawi's lawyer, who was given 15 yrs imprisonment for taking up Badawi's case.

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Siddhartha

Jan 19, 2015 11:17am

The OIC is running out of money because of falling oil price! Save the money for the future! Why waste?

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zahir

Jan 19, 2015 02:21pm

Only insane people are the majority of us, the Muslim population of the world, who is going mad on a cartoon but is OK with mass murder/honor killing going on in the Muslim society. Can you please start with suing AL-Q or ISIS ? that will be a good step.

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Jawwad

Jan 19, 2015 02:55pm

Another useless step by an impotent organization. If Muslim countries truly felt offended they would have cut all diplomatic, economic activities with France. The bitter truth is that its much more easier to rally a bunch of lunatics, get a television crew to cover the ruckus... and the end. Our national memory is much too short for us to remember events over a week old. Let a month go by and no one will even mention Charlie Hebdo!!!

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Riaz

Jan 19, 2015 04:09pm

Most useless organisation in the world; OIC.

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Ahmer

Jan 20, 2015 07:11am

Can't Charlie Hebdo be sued in a Muslim country under a Muslim Judge.

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Allaisa

Jan 20, 2015 07:51am

@Sharma Pandey It is their country and it is their laws. Likewise Islamic countries have their own laws against apostasy and blasphemy. You can not question their laws and they wont question your laws. If you ask them to repeal the law against holocaust denial, they will ask you to repeal your laws against apostasy and blasphemy. Are you prepared to do that? Remember in this world there are only 1.1 billion Muslims and 5.5 billion others. Is it fair for these minority Muslims to ask the majority to abide by their laws when most Muslim countries do not protect their minorities?

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Allaisa

Jan 20, 2015 07:53am

Remember this works both ways. If OIC sues it is placing itself under the jurisdiction of the French courts. In that case it can be sued by those affected by this massacre for billions of dollars/franks in damages.

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Allaisa

Jan 20, 2015 08:00am

@Anonymous Oh, I see said the blind man. No he did not see but neither do the OIC.

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Kalsoom Fatima Adv

Jan 20, 2015 08:14am

hopefully they will do anything

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khanm

Jan 21, 2015 10:24am

@Cynical OIC is nothing but OH I SEE

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