Charlie Hebdo cartoonist says will no longer draw Prophet MuhammadApril 30, 2015 - 10:38 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Charlie Hebdo cartoonist "Luz", who designed the front page of the magazine that appeared after the Paris attacks, has said he will no longer draw the Prophet Muhammad. According to BBC News, Renald Luzier has told French magazine Inrocks that drawing Muhammad "no longer interests me". Twelve people were murdered when two Islamist gunmen burst into the Charlie Hebdo offices on Jan 7. The attack prompted a wave of sympathy under the banner "Je suis Charlie". Within days of the attack, the satirical magazine's surviving staff produced a defiant edition with the headline "All is forgiven" above Luz's cartoon showing the Prophet weeping, while holding a sign saying "I am Charlie". Pictorial depictions of the founder of Islam are considered forbidden by most Muslims. Following the January attack, the magazine's normal print run of 60,000 eventually climbed to eight million. "I've got tired of [drawing Muhammad], just like I got tired of drawing Sarkozy. I'm not going to spend my life drawing them," Luz said in answer to a question about the famous January edition. Luz is about to release a book of cartoons entitled "Catharsis", which he says in his interview was his way of expressing himself after the murder of his colleagues. The satirical weekly has courted controversy in the past with its irreverent take on news and current affairs. It was firebombed in November 2011 a day after it carried a caricature of the Prophet Muhammad. The magazine, which was regularly struggling to make ends meet, is now backed up by tens of millions of euros of funding. But Luz says that financial security has posed questions about its future editorial direction. "Is Charlie still a political paper? Can it become a news mag?" he asks. A new format is set to appear in September, he says, but little more is known. In February, former Charlie Hebdo editor Philippe Val said he feared for the magazine's survival amid a new media climate of self-censorship. In his Inrocks interview, Luz reacts furiously to the remarks: "He isn't Charlie any more. He's just a part of Charlie's history." "The terrorists did not win," he insists. Photo: AP Related links: Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Pasadena to host Armenian Genocide commemoration event The Pasadena Armenian Coalition will host its community-wide Armenian Genocide Commemorative Event. Armenia: Opposition activist transferred to Investigative Committee Activist Samvel Vardanyan has been accused of insulting the lawmaker Hakob Aslanyan from the ruling Civil Contract party. Former Pashinyan envoy urges end to Genocide speculation Marukyan has urged authorities in Armenia stop discussions about verifying the names of 1.5 million victims. Azerbaijan, Jordan sign deal on defense cooperation Azerbaijan and Jordan have signed an agreement on cooperation in the field of defense, according to an official statement. |