Man jailed for 30 years for Charlie Hebdo meat cleaver attack
3 min readA man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for attempting to murder two people with a meat cleaver outside the former Paris offices of Charlie Hebdo in 2020. Zaheer Mahmood, 29, a Pakistani national, launched a violent attack on two employees of the Premieres Lignes news agency just days after Charlie Hebdo republished controversial cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad.
Mahmood, unaware that Charlie Hebdo had relocated its offices to a secret location after the deadly 2015 terrorist attack that left 12 people dead, targeted the wrong premises. The 2015 attack, carried out by al-Qaeda, was in response to the initial publication of the cartoons, which had sparked outrage in parts of the Muslim world. Mahmood’s attack came after Charlie Hebdo republished the cartoons in September 2020 to coincide with the opening of the trial of several individuals connected to the 2015 massacre.
Mahmood was convicted of attempted murder and terrorist conspiracy. In addition to his prison sentence, he will be banned from France once his sentence has been served. The court also sentenced five other Pakistani men, who were involved in the conspiracy and supported Mahmood, to prison terms ranging from three to 12 years. Some of these individuals were under 18 at the time of their involvement, which led to the trial being held in a juvenile court in Paris.
The court heard that Mahmood had been influenced by radical Pakistani preacher Khadim Hussain Rizvi, who had publicly urged his followers to “avenge the Prophet.” Mahmood, motivated by these calls for vengeance, arrived at Charlie Hebdo’s former office in Paris’s 11th district armed with a meat cleaver. There, he attacked and seriously wounded two employees of Premieres Lignes, a news agency with offices nearby. Witnesses later described seeing the victims “bloodied” and being chased by a man wielding a cleaver.
The victims, a 32-year-old woman named Hélène and a 37-year-old man, were present in the courtroom for the sentencing but chose not to comment on the outcome. They did not accept Mahmood’s pleas for forgiveness. The 37-year-old victim spoke of the physical and emotional toll of the attack, describing how the incident had “broken something” within him. He also shared his lengthy rehabilitation process, which continues as he recovers from the traumatic experience.
Mahmood, who arrived in France in 2017, initially claimed he had entered the country in 2019. Additionally, he lied about his age, claiming to be 18 at the time of his arrival. Mahmood’s defense lawyer, Alberic de Gayardon, argued that his client felt isolated and disconnected from French society. According to de Gayardon, Mahmood primarily lived and worked within a Pakistani community in France, which contributed to his sense of alienation. “He does not speak French, he lives with Pakistanis, he works for Pakistanis,” de Gayardon stated. “In his head, he had never left Pakistan.”
This attack highlights the complex intersection of extremist ideology, personal alienation, and violent radicalization. Mahmood’s actions were not only fueled by religious zeal but also by a sense of detachment from the society in which he found himself living. The support of radical preachers like Khadim Hussain Rizvi plays a significant role in shaping the beliefs of vulnerable individuals, such as Mahmood, who may feel disconnected from the host country and seek meaning through extremist ideologies.
The case has sparked discussions about the challenges of combating radicalization and extremism, particularly among migrants who struggle with integration. It also underscores the continuing tensions surrounding the freedom of expression and the publication of controversial material, particularly in the context of Charlie Hebdo, which has been targeted multiple times due to its provocative cartoons.
The 2020 attack on the Charlie Hebdo offices serves as a grim reminder of the enduring threat posed by extremist groups and the lasting impact of the 2015 massacre. As the trial concludes and Mahmood faces justice, the survivors continue their long road to recovery, and France grapples with the complex issues of immigration, integration, and security. The case also raises questions about how to address the broader issues of radicalization and prevent similar attacks in the future.
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