The French satirical magazine has likened the scores of victims of the country's recent earthquake to dishes of pasta.
ADVERTISEMENTA satirical cartoon depicting the victims of last week’s earthquake in Italy as dishes of pasta has sparked a wave of anger in Italy.
The cartoon, in the current issue of France’s Charlie Hebdo magazine, likens the inhabitants of the village of Amatrice to the layered pasta-and-meat dish of lasagne along with others.
The earthquake in the central Apennines Mountain region, claimed nearly 300 lives, injured hundreds of people and left thousands of residents homeless when their towns and villages were destroyed.
Amatrice was the town hardest-hit by the tremor on August 24.
230 bodies were found in the debris.
Amatrice’s mayor, Sergio Perozzi, called the cartoon in Charlie Hebdo magazine an offence to the dead, to Italy and to a community.
“This is offensive to all those Italians who wrote ‘Je suis…’, and I won’t even finish that because I don’t want to give publicity to these negative things,” he said.
“There is a difference between this and satire. Satire must stir a sentiment, I mean, to make satire from a tragedy like this that has hit an entire nation and the whole world is, I think, really ugly.”
“If this is a way to get attention, I think it speaks for itself.”
#JeSuisCharlie
The magazine is no stranger to controversy.
In the past, it has published cartoons of a young Syrian refugee who drowned while fleeing to Europe.
It has also posted controversial sketches of the Prophet Mohammed.
However, the magazine is also heralded as a beacon for free speech. The hashtag #JeSuisCharlie trended strongly following an attack on its offices in January 2015.
In tweets
Italy interior minister Angelino Alfano tells #CharlieHebdo cartoonists “where they can stick their pencils” after quake cartoons #terremoto
— Angus MacKinnon (@AngusM1966) September 3, 2016
Charlie Hebdo causes outrage with Italy earthquake cartoon depicting victims 'as lasagne' https://t.co/jRUeEANiSS
— The Independent (@Independent) September 4, 2016
#charliehebdo reaction
#charliehebdo is trending once more.
The cartoon has sparked outrage and anger both in Italy and further afield.
Je ne suis pas #CharlieHebdo.
These pen&pencil terrorists depict victims of Italian earthquake as pasta and lasagna pic.twitter.com/n4fbgd2oUh— Maria Dubovikova (@politblogme) September 3, 2016
Satire is often cruel, but it should poke fun at the strong, at institutions, never the victim, the vulnerable or weak. #CharlieHebdo
— Sally Lewis (@RslewisSally) September 3, 2016
Political satire it's one thing, but don't make fun of dead people #CharlieHebdo#Amatricepic.twitter.com/jrxu9rohRo
— Daniela Degrassi (@danieladegrassi) September 2, 2016
I'm Italian and I would expect sensibility and respect from a country such as France that has been through so much. Ignorant! #CharlieHebdo
— Layla Blame (@LaylaBlame) September 2, 2016
However, some have raised the issue of double standards.
#CharlieHebdo cartoon comparing earthquake victims to Pasta has Italians up in arms, though many were unquestioningly #jesuischarlie in 2015
— Barbara Serra (@BarbaraGSerra) September 2, 2016
Some who're bashing #CharlieHebdo now are the same ones supporting freedom of speech during Prophet Muhammad's issue. Double standard much?
— AyuMusa (@ayuscure) September 2, 2016
Interesting how those who said “Je suis Charlie” when #charliehebdo targeted Muslims are now appalled when Italian victims are targeted.
— Garikai Chengu (@ChenguGold) September 2, 2016
#CharlieHebdo Has “crossed the line” but it didn't crossed it when it was abt Islam & refugees. Someone explain me where is the line.
— Joy Rizzo (@RizzoJoy) September 2, 2016