Editor held over 'Charlie Hebdo' cartoon, freed

The editor of an Urdu newspaper, Shirin Dalvi, was arrested for reprinting a controversial caricature originally carried by French satirical magazine “Charlie Hebdo.“

Dalvi, who is editor of “Avadhnama,” was later released on bail. Dalvi was arrested by the Mumbra police for the controversial cartoon being reprinted in the January 17 issue. “Avadhnama” had carried the image of the “Charlie Hebdo” cover issue produced after the terrorist attack that killed the magazine’s editors and cartoonists in Paris.

While Dalvi could not be contacted for comments, the Urdu Patrakar Sangh appealed to journalists to be cautious on such issues. “Any attempts of hurting sentiments would not be tolerated and journalists have a greater responsibility towards this,” Urdu Patrakar Sangh General Secretary Aijaz Ahmed Ansari told Deccan Herald.

A Mumbra resident who saw the cartoon in the newspaper filed a complaint with the police. Some Muslim organisations and associations, too, have complained to the police about the “objectionable” reprint of the cartoon.

She has been booked for outraging religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion with malicious intent under Section 295 A of the Indian Penal Code. The “Charlie Hebdo” office in Paris was attacked on January 7 by gunmen who shot down two policemen and 10 journalists.
DH News Service