Charlie Hebdo defies terror with special issue for attack anniversary

France is preparing to mark 10 years since terror attacks targeting satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and a Jewish supermarket left 17 people dead in Paris. The three days of violence, triggered by the magazine’s publication of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed, sparked worldwide debate about freedom of expression and religious sensitivities.

Commemorations will include a special edition of Charlie Hebdo, ceremonies led by President Emmanuel Macron and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, and tributes across France honouring the victims.

On 7 January 2015, brothers Chérif and Saïd Kouachi stormed the offices of Charlie Hebdo, killing 11 people and injuring 11 others. A 12th victim was killed as the gunmen fled.

The attackers, who claimed allegiance to al-Qaeda in Yemen, said they were taking revenge for the paper’s printing caricatures of the prophet Mohammed.

The following day, their associate Amedy Coulibaly killed a police officer in Montrouge, south of Paris. On 9 January, he attacked a kosher supermarket in eastern Paris, killing four people after taking them hostage.

All three attackers died in shoot-outs with police.

In the aftermath of the attacks, the French art director Joachim Roncin created the slogan ‘Je Suis Charlie’ which became a logo that was adopted by advocates of freedom of speech, who took to the streets in rallies throughout France to support the concept.

The magazine says the competition is intended for everyone who is fed up with living in a society directed by God and religion.