Social media outrage rose Monday over controversial cartoons depicting the death of a Syrian refugee child, Alan Kurdi, published in the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.
Last week the young boy’s body was found washed ashore on a Turkish beach after a boat carrying Syrian refugees capsized in the Mediterranean Sea.
Many media outlets paid tribute to the three-year-old boy after the photos emerged. The response of Charlie Hebdo is now under intense scrutiny, and some say the magazine has pushed the limits of satire too far.
One cartoon published by Charlie Hebdo is overlaid with the words, “So close to his goal…” It features a drawing of the image of the young boy face down in the sand, with a McDonald’s-like sign behind him that reads, “Two children’s menus for the price of one.”
The second cartoon, titled, “The Proof that Europe is Christian,” portrays a Jesus-like character walking on water as a boy’s legs protrude from beneath the surface.
The cartoon says, “Christians walk on water, Muslim children drown.”
http://twitter.com/fatimaabdelgwad/status/643277299916210180
The conversation on Twitter continues to grow as worldwide social media users voice their opinion. Below are responses to the “utterly disgusting” cartoons within the past of couple days.
Utterly disgusting. #CharlieHebdo has come to symbolize poor taste, insensitivity & bad journalism globally. #France https://t.co/BJxL9DWtpJ
— Thought Sicario ™ (@mamur) September 14, 2015
http://twitter.com/MuslimIQ/status/643286558892814336
Hearing Charlie Hebdo mocked the death of Syrian boy Aylan Kurdi for the 2nd time. Those satirists sure do punch up and aim at the powerful
— Remi Kanazi (@Remroum) September 14, 2015
The #CharlieHebdo cover mocking the death of #AylanKurdi, the drowned Syrian toddler, is puerile, disgraceful and outrageous.
— Dr. Hassan Qadri (@DrHassanQadri) September 14, 2015
If you think Charlie Hebdo mocking the death of Aylan Kurdi is freedom of speech then you're part of the problem.
— Abu Hashim (@zvyyvd) September 14, 2015
Disgusting images published recently by Charlie Hebdo mocking the death of the young Syrian Refugee Aylan Kurdi pic.twitter.com/nh5FTaVNdJ
— Khalid Latif (@KLatif) September 14, 2015