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Charlie Hebdo Cartoonist Who Depicted Muhammad After Attack to Leave Charlie Hebdo Cartoonist Who Depicted Muhammad After Attack to Leave
(about 1 hour later)
LONDON — The cartoonist known as Luz, who drew the polarizing cover of a weeping Prophet Muhammad for the first issue of Charlie Hebdo after the January attack on its office in Paris, is leaving the satirical French newspaper, saying the pressure had become “too much to bear.”LONDON — The cartoonist known as Luz, who drew the polarizing cover of a weeping Prophet Muhammad for the first issue of Charlie Hebdo after the January attack on its office in Paris, is leaving the satirical French newspaper, saying the pressure had become “too much to bear.”
In an interview with the newspaper Libération published on Monday, the cartoonist, Renald Luzier, said he could no longer face the trauma of working without the colleagues who were killed in the attack.In an interview with the newspaper Libération published on Monday, the cartoonist, Renald Luzier, said he could no longer face the trauma of working without the colleagues who were killed in the attack.
“Each issue is torture, because the others are gone,” Mr. Luzier said. “Spending sleepless nights summoning the dead, wondering what Charb, Cabu, Honoré, Tignous would have done is exhausting,” he added, referring to cartoonists who were killed by two Islamist brothers by their nicknames. “Each issue is torture, because the others are gone,” Mr. Luzier said. “Spending sleepless nights summoning the dead, wondering what Charb, Cabu, Honoré, Tignous would have done is exhausting,” he added, referring to cartoonists who were killed by two Islamist brothers by their pseudonyms.
Mr. Luzier, who will leave in September, was among a group of dissidents at the publication who wrote an editorial in the French daily Le Monde this year questioning its direction.Mr. Luzier, who will leave in September, was among a group of dissidents at the publication who wrote an editorial in the French daily Le Monde this year questioning its direction.
The attack on Charlie Hebdo, part of a three-day onslaught that left 17 dead in and around Paris, shocked the world and transformed the satirical newspaper — and Mr. Luzier, one of its most prominent contributors — into global symbols of free speech.The attack on Charlie Hebdo, part of a three-day onslaught that left 17 dead in and around Paris, shocked the world and transformed the satirical newspaper — and Mr. Luzier, one of its most prominent contributors — into global symbols of free speech.
Charlie Hebdo, which had long lampooned both religious and secular targets that included Islam, Judaism, Roman Catholicism and France’s political class, is believed to have been singled out for the assault because it had repeatedly published caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad. Charlie Hebdo, which has long lampooned both religious and secular targets that included Islam, Judaism, Roman Catholicism and France’s political class, is believed to have been singled out for the assault because it had repeatedly published caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad.
Nevertheless, after the attacks, Mr. Luzier defiantly drew a cover image showing a bearded Muhammad shedding a tear and holding up a sign that read, “I Am Charlie,” the free-speech rallying cry that became synonymous with support for the newspaper. On a green background above the cartoon, the headline read, “All Is Forgiven.”Nevertheless, after the attacks, Mr. Luzier defiantly drew a cover image showing a bearded Muhammad shedding a tear and holding up a sign that read, “I Am Charlie,” the free-speech rallying cry that became synonymous with support for the newspaper. On a green background above the cartoon, the headline read, “All Is Forgiven.”
For some Muslims, any depiction of Muhammad is seen as blasphemous, and the cover of its first issue after the attack prompted tens of thousands of protesters to take to the streets in Afghanistan, Pakistan and elsewhere. It inflamed a global debate about secularism, freedom of expression and religious sensitivities, and brought Mr. Luzier a global scrutiny that he said he found daunting. For many Muslims, any depiction of Muhammad is blasphemous, and the cover of its first issue after the attack prompted tens of thousands of protesters to take to the streets in Afghanistan, Pakistan and elsewhere. It inflamed a global debate about secularism, freedom of expression and religious sensitivities, and brought Mr. Luzier a global scrutiny that he said he found daunting.
Mr. Luzier, who joined the newspaper in 1992, told Libération that he had been consumed by anguish, paranoia and fear after the attacks. He recently told the French magazine Les Inrockuptibles that he would no longer draw Muhammad, saying, “He no longer interests me.”Mr. Luzier, who joined the newspaper in 1992, told Libération that he had been consumed by anguish, paranoia and fear after the attacks. He recently told the French magazine Les Inrockuptibles that he would no longer draw Muhammad, saying, “He no longer interests me.”
Mr. Luzier is scheduled to publish a new book this week called “Catharsis,” in which he grapples with nightmares since his colleagues were killed and with the stress of living around the clock with a police presence, including, he noted, when he goes to sleep. Mr. Luzier is scheduled to publish a new book this week called “Catharsis,” in which he grapples with the nightmares he has had since his colleagues were killed and with the stress of living with a police presence around the clock, including, he noted, when he goes to sleep.
Paradoxically, the assault helped revive the financial fortunes of the newspaper, which was on the brink of bankruptcy and had a print run of about 60,000 copies before the attack. Demand was so high afterward that the newspaper printed eight million copies for its first issue after the assault.Paradoxically, the assault helped revive the financial fortunes of the newspaper, which was on the brink of bankruptcy and had a print run of about 60,000 copies before the attack. Demand was so high afterward that the newspaper printed eight million copies for its first issue after the assault.
But the newspaper is struggling to cope with the aftermath and trauma of the attacks, and with internal divisions over its future that have been fanned, at least in part, by its sudden global success.But the newspaper is struggling to cope with the aftermath and trauma of the attacks, and with internal divisions over its future that have been fanned, at least in part, by its sudden global success.
The infighting was recently laid bare when 15 members of Charlie Hebdo’s staff, including Mr. Luzier, wrote an editorial in Le Monde calling for all employees to become equal shareholders in the newspaper and warning against the weekly’s becoming “poisoned” by the large sums that were suddenly lining its once empty coffers.The infighting was recently laid bare when 15 members of Charlie Hebdo’s staff, including Mr. Luzier, wrote an editorial in Le Monde calling for all employees to become equal shareholders in the newspaper and warning against the weekly’s becoming “poisoned” by the large sums that were suddenly lining its once empty coffers.
The newspaper received 4.3 million euros, or about $4.8 million, after the attacks, with contributions from 36,000 donors in 84 countries.The newspaper received 4.3 million euros, or about $4.8 million, after the attacks, with contributions from 36,000 donors in 84 countries.
“We refuse that our newspaper, which has become a tempting prey, become the object of political or financial manipulations,” the editorial said.“We refuse that our newspaper, which has become a tempting prey, become the object of political or financial manipulations,” the editorial said.
The article highlighted a simmering dispute over how to use the newspaper’s newfound wealth, accumulated through global support including by celebrities like Arnold Schwarzenegger, who took to Twitter to urge people the world over to subscribe. The article highlighted a simmering dispute over how to use the newspaper’s newfound wealth, accumulated through global support including that of celebrities like Arnold Schwarzenegger, who took to Twitter to urge people the world over to subscribe.
Gérard Biard, the top editor of Charlie Hebdo, said by telephone on Tuesday that Mr. Luzier, who had been a “monument” at the newspaper for decades, would be sorely missed, and he acknowledged that grief after the attacks had taken a toll on staff members.Gérard Biard, the top editor of Charlie Hebdo, said by telephone on Tuesday that Mr. Luzier, who had been a “monument” at the newspaper for decades, would be sorely missed, and he acknowledged that grief after the attacks had taken a toll on staff members.
“Certainly the grief continues to weigh on us, and the trauma is not the same for everyone,” Mr. Biard said.“Certainly the grief continues to weigh on us, and the trauma is not the same for everyone,” Mr. Biard said.
“Without a doubt, Luz had more and more difficulty going on as before, and it is understandable,” he added.“Without a doubt, Luz had more and more difficulty going on as before, and it is understandable,” he added.
He continued: “He is an artist and wanted to do other things. We will miss him. People come and go, and we will find other talents.”He continued: “He is an artist and wanted to do other things. We will miss him. People come and go, and we will find other talents.”
Mr. Briard also played down the divisions at the company, saying they had been exaggerated by the French news media. Donations will continue to help the families of the victims of the attack, he said, and the newspaper will manage prudently its newfound resources, which have been buttressed by a large jump in circulation that would almost certainly be temporary. Mr. Briard also played down the divisions at the company, saying they had been exaggerated by the French news media. Donations will continue to help the families of the victims of the attack, he said, and the newspaper will prudently manage its newfound resources, which have been buttressed by a large jump in circulation that would almost certainly be temporary.
Charlie Hebdo will continue to cleave to its hard-hitting satire, he continued, and no subject, including Islam, is off limits.Charlie Hebdo will continue to cleave to its hard-hitting satire, he continued, and no subject, including Islam, is off limits.
“We are not obsessed by Islam,” he added. “We don’t deal with it when it is not in the news.”“We are not obsessed by Islam,” he added. “We don’t deal with it when it is not in the news.”
Mr. Luzier, for his part, said in the interview with Les Inrockuptibles that he wanted to focus on other projects, including adapting “The Shining” by Stephen King and working on a book about the juvenile adventures he has had since age 10.Mr. Luzier, for his part, said in the interview with Les Inrockuptibles that he wanted to focus on other projects, including adapting “The Shining” by Stephen King and working on a book about the juvenile adventures he has had since age 10.