Ex-Charlie Hebdo cartoonist Joann Sfar: Don't pray, Paris is about life
This cartoon by Joann Sfar's responding to the Paris terror attacks has provoked a debate. Credit: Instagram / Joann Sfar
A French cartoonist has responded to the carnage in Paris with a cartoon asking his global friends not to pray for the City of Light -- but instead to promote the message #ParisisaboutLife.
As news of the terror attacks spread Friday night, former Charlie Hebdo cartoonist Joann Sfar posted a drawing on Instagram that has provoked a debate.
To "friends from the whole world," Sfar wrote, “thank you for #prayforParis, but we don't need more religion! Our faith goes to music! Kisses! Life! Champagne and Joy! #ParisisaboutLife."
Instragram user junimond111 called Sfar's message "The most reasonable reaction on a most unreasonable day."
"Thank you," nabbyws wrote in French. "I don't have the words, thank you."
Others pushed back on Sfar's message.
"Tell that to the people who just lost their loved ones," responded melodious_p.
Lucian Vinatoriu, whose handle is lux_hussein, said “this is great! except that the hashtag is about showing compassion, not about religion. d’oh…!"
The Paris prosecutor said Saturday that 129 people were killed in Friday's attacks at the Bataclan concert hall, Parisian cafes and near France's national stadium. Three hundred and fifty-two were injured, with 99 in critical condition.
As of late Saturday afternoon Eastern time, Sfar's post had generated more than 14,700 likes and more than 600 comments.
In January, Islamic extremists attacked Charlie Hebdo -- a satirical newspaper in Paris that had published cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad -- as well as a kosher grocery. Twenty people died, including three assailants.
Instagram user blan_dine_b said she is a big fan of Sfar, "but I think it’s quite irrelevant to link what happened with #religion."
"This is the worst mistake people obviously will make, and we all have to remain careful about the dangerous confusion between religion and fanaticism," she continued. "The rise of these 'fanatic terrorists' in France is entirely due to our disastrous social politic over the last 50 years, leading to social fracture and misunderstanding between communities."
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