Notwithstanding the demonstrations in France supporting the free speech rights of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, the French government continues to regard free speech as a right conferred by the government rather than a natural right of all citizens, argues Fox analyst Andrew Napolitano. Those who wore “I am Charlie Hebdo” buttons and headbands marched with impunity while those wearing “I am not Charlie Hebdo” garb were asked by the police to remove them. (Reason, January 15, 2015, by Andrew Napolitano)
The French government has opened 54 criminal cases cracking down on speech “condoning terrorism.” (Boing Boing, January 14, 2015, by Xeni Jardin)
Ruth Marcus, The Washington Post, January 16, cited the arrest of anti-Semitic comedian Dieudonne M’bala M’bala in arguing that to support the often tasteless cartoons of Charlie Hebdo should mean that that support should also extend to Dieudonne’s offensive speech.