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The cover of the upcoming "survivors" edition of the French satirical weekly "Charlie Hebdo."
PARIS — The cartoonist who drew an image of the prophet Mohammed for the cover of this week's defiant edition of Charlie Hebdo told reporters in an emotional news conference Tuesday that the front page is not the one a terrorist would want "but it's the front page we want."
The cover by Renald "Luz" Luzier shows a weeping Mohammed holding a sign that says "Je suis Charlie'' (I am Charlie) with the words "All is forgiven" above him. Zineb El Rhazoui, a journalist with the newspaper, described the cover as meaning that the journalists were forgiving the extremists who killed 12 people last Wednesday, including a number of staffers.
USA TODAY traditionally does not show images of Mohammed to avoid offending Muslim readers. But the magazine cover has enough news value to warrant its publication in this case.
"It's not the front page the world wanted us to do," said Luzier. "But it's the front page we wanted. It's not the front page a terrorist would have wanted us to do — there are no terrorists on there."
Luzier, who broke down in tears several times during the news conference, said, "There's just a guy who's crying. It's Mohammed. I am sorry, we drew him again. But this Mohammed is, above everything else, a man in tears."
He said he conferred with other Charlie cartoonists, past and present, about what to draw and decided it should not be heavy and weighty, but should be something "that makes us laugh."
"Then the idea came to draw Mohammed and I looked at the drawing I did of him and he was crying," he added, visibly shaken. "And then above it I wrote, "All is forgiven," then I cried, and that was our cover."
New Charlie Hebdo editor in chief Gerard Biard, recalled the reaction by staff when they saw the cover.
"When Luz showed us the drawing we all burst into laughter and jumped in each other's arms," he said. "We knew we needed to figure out how to continue to laugh and make others laugh."
Aurelien Meunier, Getty Images
Charlie Hebdo, editor in chief Gerard Briard, left, Charlie Hebdo cartoonist, Renald Luzier, center and Patrick Pelloux , Charlie Hebdo journalist, hold a news conference Jan. 13, 2015, in Paris.
This week's edition is the first since two gunmen opened fire on an editorial meeting of the newspaper last week, killing much of the editorial staff, including well-known French cartoonists. Two police officers were also killed in the attack that left 12 people dead and shocked the country.
More 1.5 million people — including many world leaders — turned out in a show of solidarity Sunday, many carrying a sign containing the "I am Charlie" phrase.
The new issue includes drawings by the slain cartoonists. One shows a much-loved late French nun talking about oral sex. Another shows a Muslim, Christian and Jewish leader dividing up the world.
One by Bernard "Tignous" Verlhac depicts two Muslim jihadists, with one saying: "We shouldn't attack Charlie Hebdo people." The other replies: "(yeah), they will become martyrs and once in paradise, will steal all our virgins."
The newspaper is printing 3,000,000 copies of the issue, a huge increase over the normal circulation of 60,000. The publishers will also put out editions in English, Arabic and Turkish.
The lead editorial argues passionately for the right to lampoon religions and religious leaders and hold them accountable — and ends with a critique of the pope.
"For the past week, Charlie, an atheist newspaper, has achieved more miracles than all the saints and prophets combined. The one we are most proud of is that you have in your hands the newspaper that we always made," it reads.
The issue even included a mock front page featuring Said and Chérif Kouachi, the two gunmen believed responsible for the carnage at the newspaper offices. The two brothers were later killed by security forces while hiding in a publishing warehouse.
After the attack at the newspaper and death at the printing shop, the Kouachi brothers are depicted saying, "I am afraid it will look intellectual."
The French Muslim community warned against overreaction toward the barbs in the issue.
"In regards to the new issue of Charlie Hebdo, (we) call on the Muslim community of France to keep their calm and avoid emotional reactions or actions that are incongruous with (the prophet Mohammed's) dignity and to respect the freedom of opinion," said Dalil Boubakeur, president of the Muslim Institute of the Mosque of Paris.
The surviving staff is working out of heavily guarded temporary offices at the newspaper Libération.
Stanglin reported from McLean, Va. Contributing: Associated Press
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