Satirical French magazine Charlie Hebdo has been criticised for a cartoon that depicts Alan Kurdi, the young Syrian boy who drowned last year, as a sexual pervert.
"What would little #AylanKurdi have grown up to be? Ass groper in Germany." ~ #CharlieHebdo on #Cologne #Migrants
What would little Aylan have grown up to be? An arse groper in Germany.
The images of 3-year-old Alan lying lifeless on a Turkish beach last year were seen as a personification of the horror of the refugee crisis, shocking the world.
Later, in Cologne, there were widespread reports of sexual attacks on women on New Year's Eve, apparently carried out by men of "Arab or North African" descent.
The cartoon has provoked outrage in France.
Charlie hebdo toujours plus loin dans l'immonde, le raciste, le dégueulasse. https://t.co/T1Wh6ZgLZu
Charlie Hebdo is always filthy, racist, disgusting.
Chez #Charlie, on aime rire de la mort. Enfin, seulement de celle des "Autres"... 😒 #CharlieHebdo #Pyromanes https://t.co/fx59U3cCHg
At Charlie, we love to laugh at death. However, only that of 'others'.
Wow. Woooooooooow. Ca dépasse tout entendement là (attention dessin atrocement raciste) https://t.co/aCDaf9ynab
Wow. Wooooow. This is beyond all understanding (caution, horribly racist drawing).
There was much the same response in Britain.
A new low for Charlie Hebdo as cartoon suggests dead 3-year-old refugee Alan Kurdi would have become sexual attacker https://t.co/1eq2ieTWXn
Disgusting cartoon in Charlie Hebdo ("what would've become of Aylan had he grown up? A groper") via @faizaz
I support Charlie Hebdo's right to offend. Their latest offering is disgusting, racist, and lacks humour #Gotitwrong https://t.co/Rs4HZvvltK
There was also criticism from a UN Human Rights Council member of staff.
This is outrageous. https://t.co/TKMf0aqNla
Some, however, have defended the cartoon's intent.
In the crassest, most tasteless way possible, they are trying to make a serious point about media coverage of refugees: (3) #charliehebdo
This is, of course, by far the first time Charlie Hebdo has sparked accusations of racism by using a crass joke to make a subtle point. (5)
But it's worth noting that often its satire isn't meant to be funny at all - it's meant to point out our own hypocrisy. (6) #charliehebdo
In September, another drawing by the same cartoonist, Riss, also mocked Alan Kurdi's death.
That has nothing2do w/ freedom of expression - its distasteful & disgusting! #charliehebdo mocks death of migrants