Charlie Hebdo given 'Islamophobe of the Year' award
Nominees include anybody supposedly opposed to the Islamic faith – including Muslims
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Charlie Hebdo has been given an international award for 'Islamophobia', two months after 12 members of staff were shot dead in a terror attack.
The awards, which were devised by The Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC), took place at a ceremony on Saturday and saw the gong go to the French satirical magazine for 'the world's most Islamophobic person or publication' in 2015.
It beat Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, US president Barack Obama and American television host Bill Maher to the title.
Read more: One in four British Muslims 'have some sympathy for motives behind Charlie Hebdo attacks'
Read more: Charlie Hebdo: Paris memorial vandalised four times in two weeks
Read more: 'Je suis Muslim': Hundreds rally in Australia over portrayal of Islam and Prophet Mohamed
Read more: British Muslim school children suffering a backlash of abuse following Paris attacks
The controversial commendation has been branded "insensitive", as it comes in the wake of the massacre on January 7 this year, in which brothers Saïd and Chérif Kouachi forced their way into the Paris offices and killed a dozen journalists and cartoonists.
Another gunman linked to the men went on to kill a policewoman and four people at a kosher supermarket in Paris.
A special edition after the tragedy, which featured the Prophet Mohammed on the cover, sold more than five million copies.
But the IHRC, a prominent Muslim group with ties to the United Nations, insisted that the awards were supposed to be taken as "tongue in cheek".
A spokesman said: "The annual Islamophobia awards have come to be known as a tongue in cheek swipe at those in public life who have perpetrated or perpetuated acts of hatred against Muslims and their faith."
Other winners of the awards were Theresa May, who won 'Islamophobe of the year', Maajid Nawaz, 'UK Islamophobe of the year', American Sniper for 'Islamophobe film of the year' and Fox News for 'media Islamophobes of the year'.
Massoud Shadjareh, the group's chairman, told the International Business Times that it was "a satirical thing", and was designed to counter the image of Muslims as "dry and angry".
"If people think Muslims should be on the receiving end of satire, then why cannot Muslims give it, too?" he said, adding: "We have a sense of humour and we can give it back."
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments