The director of Charlie Hebdo defended Sunday "the satirical spirit" of the newspaper while recognizing "the importance of the work (of) French soldiers to fight against terrorism", in a letter to the Chief of Staff of the Army, which had criticized the publication of drawings on the death of thirteen French soldiers in Mali. On the eve of national homage to soldiers killed in a helicopter crash, Riss writes that "our newspaper must remain faithful to its satirical, sometimes provocative spirit". "However, I wanted to tell you that we are aware of the importance of the work done by French soldiers to fight against terrorism," continues the boss of the weekly, himself wounded in January 2015 during the attack terrorist against the newspaper.
"Faithful to his satirical spirit"
After the military accident, the weekly with a long antimilitarist tradition has published online five drawings associating these deaths with a recruitment campaign recently launched by the French army. One shows President Emmanuel Macron standing in front of a coffin covered with the blue-white-red flag and surmounted by one of the slogans of this campaign: "I joined the ranks to stand out from the crowd". In an open letter to Riss, General Thierry Burkhard, head of the army, to which belonged the victims engaged in the anti-jihadist operation Barkhane, was indignant that "the time of the mourning of these families was dirtied by terribly outrageous caricatures that your newspaper has spread. " He had, "with sincerity and humility," invited Riss "to join us that day, to testify to them too, who have suffered in your flesh from ideology and terror, the recognition that they deserve".
Deep indignation and incomprehension at the sight of this drawing by @Charlie_Hebdo_. My thoughts go first to the families of all the soldiers killed in action to defend our freedoms. pic.twitter.com/55L8hvV3ZF
- Chief of Staff of the Army (@CEMAT_EN) November 29, 2019>> READ ALSO - Charlie Hebdo Unites: "It hurts me" says an infantryman from an elite parachute regiment
In his reply, sent to AFP, Riss "expresses (his) condolences to families and relatives bereaved" and thanked the general for his invitation to the ceremony at the Invalides, "which (he) can not however attend." "We know that their mission (French soldiers) is difficult and that they face ruthless enemies, these drawings were not intended to cast doubt on their courage and determination," he adds. "But our paper must remain faithful to its satirical, sometimes provocative spirit, which does not mean that it disregards the dedication of those who fight for values that serve everyone. to the families of the victims, "he concludes.