Open Letter: On Blasphemy, Islamophobia, and the True Enemies of Free Expression

Before Islamic militants murdered 12 staff members of the French magazine Charlie Hebdo in January 2015, many Americans had never heard of the satirical publication. The text of this provocative book-length essay by St%C3%A9phane Charbonnier, the former editor-in-chief of Charlie Hebdo, who went by the pen name "Charb," was finalized only two days before his assassination. The very existence of this slim book will be considered inflammatory or scandalous by some, but those who read it will find that Charb lays out his antireligious opinions in a clear and concise manner. One of Charb's primary goals in the essay is to distinguish racism from Islamophobia. Why is there no corresponding extremist violence in retaliation for "Judeophobia" or "Cathophobia," since Charlie Hebdo also mocks Catholic and Jewish ideas? Charb asserts that, in a secular republic, ideas must be scrutinized, and that religions are sets of ideas rather than people. Moreover, nonbelievers are incapable of committing blasphemy. Adam Gopnik's foreword provides an overview of Charlie Hebdo and some historical context for American readers. Gopnik concludes that "Faith is not the enemy. Fanaticism is the enemy." Charb pulls no punches and makes no apologies. He makes a bold case for the necessity of free expression, even in the face of real threats and death itself. Agent: Les Echapp%C3%A9s. (Jan.)