A cartoon image of a sad-faced Prophet Muhammad carrying a sign that says, "Je Suis Charlie" appeared on the front cover of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo's in its first edition a horrifying terrorist attack that left 12 dead, but it seems the publication created another violent reaction.
Charlie Hebdo protesters in Niger reportedly set fire to churches and the French flag, and raided shops run by Christians, prompting the local police to fire tear gas into the crowds.
"The protesters are crying out in local Hausa language: Charlie is Satan - let hell engulf those supporting Charlie," Aboubacar Mamane, a shopkeeper told the Jerusalem Post by telephone.
The Irish Times reported that four individuals lost their lives in the violent protest.
There was similar violence in Algiers, where police had a scuffle with protesters over Charlie Hebdo, which resulted in several police officers sustaining injuries.
Police fired riot pellets into the crowd as protesters threw rocks and bottles at them.
Pope Francis has even weighed in on the recent attack on Charlie Hebdo, saying that "one cannot make fun of faith."
Speaking to journalists during his flight to the Philippines, Pope Francis said there were limits to freedom of expression especially since every religion has its dignity.
"One cannot provoke, one cannot insult other people's faith, one cannot make fun of faith," he said.
The Telegraph reported that Charlie Hebdo co-founder Henri Roussel, 80, blames editor-in-chief Stéphane "Charb" Charbonnier for the attack on the publication, saying that he "dragged the team" to death by publishing the offensive cartoons of Prophet Mohammed.
He called Charb an "amazing lad" who also had a stubborn streak. "I really hold it against you," said Roussel.
Twelve people died in the Charlie Hebdo attack, including two police officers and several Charlie Hebdo cartoonists and staff, and a guest to their Paris offices.
