Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said that while it is wrong to kill, French weekly Charlie Hebdo is nothing but a provocative newspaper.

The satirical newspaper does not respect Islam and Prophet Muhammad, said Mahathir, as quoted by Utusan Online.

"They like to make caricatures about prophet Muhammad and this is a form of provocation. Although Muslims should not kill, there are Muslims who are so angry that they resort to that (murder).

"What is their intention to mock the prophet when they know that it hurts Muslims? It is because they feel safe and strong that they can do whatever they like," he said in a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

Stressing that he did not support killing others, the former premier however said we should bear in mind that one should not purposely provoke others, either.

"Insulting prophets and others should not be done. Maybe their religious faith has weakened but in a civilised society, we should respect the faith of others."

Charlie Hebdo, or Charlie Weekly, is well known for courting controversy with satirical attacks on political and religious leaders of all faiths and has published numerous cartoons ridiculing Prophet Muhammad.

Catholic organisations have filed a dozen of lawsuits against the magazine for, among others, lampooning the Pope.

Twelve people were killed by three gunmen at the Paris office of the satirical cartoon magazine yesterday.

The New York Times, meanwhile, quotes French Prime Minister Manuel Valls saying that several people have been detained over the attack.


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