Queen Rania al-Abdullah of Jordan stood with world leaders protesting terrorism in the Paris unity march on Jan. 11 -- but she does not stand with Charlie Hebdo in their depictions of Islam and the Prophet Muhammad.
In an interview with French publication L'Express published on Wednesday, the queen strongly condemned the Jan. 7 attack on the satirical newspaper that left 12 dead and more injured.
"I believe that this is a fight between moderates and extremists, not just in the Middle East, but across the world," Al-Abdullah said. "Which is why the demonstration’s message of global unity against this ideology of hate is so important."
Even so, the queen could not condone Charlie Hebdo's depictions of Islam and the Prophet Muhammad, which even Pope Francis suggest provoked anger in the extremists who carried out the Paris attacks.
"As a Muslim, I am against these cartoons and I am offended and hurt by the lack of respect for our beliefs," Al-Abdullah told L'Express.
Following the deadly attack, Charlie Hebdo released a new edition which featured a caricature of the Prophet Muhammad on the front cover weeping and holding a “Je Suis Charlie” sign with the caption, “All is forgiven.” Authorities in several Muslim-majority countries spoke out against the cover, calling the images "provocative."
"I cannot see the point or value of reducing a figure that millions of Muslims around the world hold so dear into crude caricatures. To what end?" Al-Abdullah mused. "More cartoons of this sort only hurt, deepen mistrust and incite prejudice, at a time when we should be promoting tolerance and understanding."
The queen emphasized that the response to these caricatures should not be violence but rather peaceful protest, and she criticized those who would blame the actions of a few individuals on an entire faith.
"[The attackers] do not represent the millions of Muslims around the world who condemn terrorism. To equate an entire religion and its followers with the actions of a minority is just wrong."
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