French case on publishing of Danish 'anti-Islamic' cartoons

The prosecution in France of the editor of the weekly magazine, Charlie Hebdo, that published the Jyllands-Posten cartoons covering various religious figures has ended in his acquittal. Its by no means the first time the magazine has been involved in legal dispute, and this may not be the end of this affair as at least one of the plaintiffs intends to appeal.

While it may be an interim conclusion only, and not eliding the fact that there must be a balance struck between freedom of expression and the 'right' not to be offended, this has to be seen as an apposite victory in a modern democratic society. This is notwithstanding the fact that some viewed the secondary publication as being specifically intended to 'provoke' Muslim 'humiliation'.

The perceived need for balance prompted the EC Commissioner for Justice, Freedom and Security to call for a pan-European Code of Practice for the reporting of religious matters. For more on the interests in freedom of expression at issue in cases of this nature, see English PEN.