The New Republic
has decided to file a complaint after receiving threats on social networks after the publication of its news on Sunday October 18, BFMTV reported on Wednesday October 21.
In homage to Samuel Paty, the history-geography professor assassinated in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine (Yvelines) on Friday, the local daily based in Tours had published a caricature of Muhammad drawn by the authors of
Charlie Hebdo.
To read also: Threatened, the HRD of
Charlie Hebdo
forced to leave his home
"
This shock, which was a strong editorial choice, based on an idea (from) the chairman of
the executive
board, aroused enormous reactions, particularly on social networks
", explains Christophe Hérigault, the editorial director of the
New Republic
.
Although "
99.9%
" of the comments were positive according to him, "
four or five messages
" threatening vis-à-vis the drafting, "
especially on Facebook
", pushed him to file a complaint.
According to
La Provence
,
it was mainly the local Chateauroux agency that received these insulting and threatening messages.
For Christophe Hérigault, these threats are made by "
people who are imbued
" with "
hatred
”.
According to the editorial director of the
New Republic
, the choice to republish this caricature of Mahomet "
overwhelmed by fundamentalists
" was intended to recall the newspaper's attachment to "
freedom of expression, to the values of the Republic, to secularism
”.
"
We are a newspaper from the Resistance, respectful of the beliefs and spiritualities of each
", insists Christophe Hérigault.
"
There was absolutely no desire to provoke, but once again to accompany and shout our anger,
" he concludes.
Read also: Assassination of Samuel Paty: an investigation under high tension
According to
La Provence
, an investigation was opened by the Châteauroux prosecutor's office and entrusted to the Limoges judicial police.