WATCH: The first edition of ‘Charlie Hebdo’ to be published, after the deadly attack on its Paris office, hit the stands in Canada on Friday and sold out in minutes. The goal wasn’t just to get a copy of the magazine, but to make a point about protecting freedom of expression. Mike Armstrong reports.
TORONTO – Canadians who want to see the latest issue of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo might find it a challenge to get a copy.
The magazine’s Canadian distributor says the latest issue will be in stores today, but there won’t be anywhere near enough to meet demand.
LMPI says 1,500 copies will be available in 135 stores across the country.
The vast majority of the copies will be carried by Quebec retailers, but the magazine will also be available at a handful of stores in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
Some stores say their limited number of copies have already been spoken for by people who have reserved them ahead of time.
READ MORE: ‘Charlie Hebdo’ satire isn’t new, but exposes what’s ‘ok’ to mock
However, Charlie Hebdo is also making the issue available through its iPhone and Android apps. The issue is on sale for $3.49 through the Apple App Store and $4.24 through Google Play.
The issue, which has been selling out in France, is the first one produced since a pair of Islamic extremists opened fire at the magazine’s Paris offices, killing 12 people.
The cover of the latest issue shows a caricature of the Prophet Muhammad weeping and holding a sign reading “I am Charlie” with the words “All is forgiven” above him.
READ MORE: Why coverage of the Paris shooting has overshadowed a massacre in Nigeria
Customers lined up again in Paris on Thursday to try to get copies. Even though it had a special increased print run of five-million copies, it sold out before dawn for a second straight day.
Some Muslims, who believe their faith forbids depictions of Muhammad, reacted with dismay or anger at the new cover. In Pakistan, lawmakers marched outside parliament on Thursday to protest the publication.
A leader of Yemen’s al-Qaida branch officially claimed responsibility for the attacks at Charlie Hebdo, saying in a video the slayings were in “vengeance for the prophet.” But U.S. and French intelligence officials lean toward an assessment that the Paris terror attacks were inspired by al-Qaida but not directly supervised by the group.
Comments