Anti-Muslim Backlash to Erupt After Paris Massacre?

On Wednesday, three masked gunmen stormed the office of a newspaper in Paris, killing 12 people and injuring 10 others. The gunmen escaped in a hijacked car and remain on the loose at the time of this video.

The office belongs to the newspaper Charlie Hebdo, which is famous for its no-holds-barred satirical cartoons. These cartoons often satirize politicians and religious leaders. The newspaper has received numerous threats for its caricatures of the Islamic prophet Mohammed. Its offices were firebombed in 2011 after an issue depicted a caricature of Mohammed on its cover.

A police chief reported that the gunmen sought out staff members by name. The editor of the newspaper and several cartoonists, as well as two police officers, were killed in the attack.

Eyewitnesses said the gunmen shouted “Allahu Akbar” during the attack and said “the prophet has been avenged.” French President François Hollande said it was “a terrorist attack, without a doubt.” In recent weeks, French authorities have thwarted several other attacks.

Christophe Deloire is the head of the non-profit organization Reporters Without Borders. He said it was a “black day” for press freedoms in France.

Deloire also said, “What is at stake, is the fight to try and intimidate journalists, to try and restrain the freedom of the press.”

Anti-Muslim movements have been growing across Europe. The popularity of far-right parties is also increasing. These political parties typically have anti-immigration policies.

Last year, France’s National Front made historic gains in local and Senate elections. It won the most seats in France’s election to the European Parliament. According to polls, party leader Marine Le Pen would top a presidential election if held now.

The Trumpet believes that such anti-immigration parties will garner more support as radical Islamists continue to push their agenda in Europe. Read “Catholic Europe vs. Islamic Hordes: Round 2” for more on this trend.