The staff of the French satirical magazine say that they have been waiting for the right time to publish the drawings of the Islamic prophet.
"Since January 2015, we have been repeatedly asked to publish caricatures of Muhammad."
"We have refused to do so, not because it is forbidden - the law allows it - but because a good reason is required.
A meaningful reason that adds something to the debate ", writes Charlie Hebdo according to The Guardian.
The cartoons were first published in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten in 2005 and the following year the French satirical magazine followed.
Both editions were met with strong protests from Muslim groups who considered the satirical images offensive.
"All this, because of this"
One of the illustrations that adorns Wednesday's cover has been drawn by the well-known French cartoonist Jean “Cabu” Cabut, who was among the 12 people killed when two perpetrators entered the newspaper's premises in January 2015 and opened fire.
"All this, because of this," reads the headline on the front.
In addition to the twelve people who were shot dead at Charlie Hebdo, a policeman was shot to death by a third perpetrator who then took 16 people hostage in a Jewish grocery store and killed four more.
After a huge police operation, all the perpetrators were killed.
Suspected assistants in court
Shortly afterwards, the terrorist network al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for the attack on Charlie Hebdo, and the Islamic State (IS) claimed to be behind the attack on the Jewish grocery store.
The people now being prosecuted are suspected of having provided weapons and logistical support to the terrorists.
Several of the accused have previously claimed that they knew that a crime would be committed but not that it was a mass murder.
The court hearings will last until mid-November.