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Charlie Hebdo: Je suis Panama

Sean SinicoApril 6, 2016

French satire magazine "Charlie Hebdo" chose a message of sarcastic solidarity with the rich and powerful whose offshore accounts were exposed by the Panama Papers. "Je suis Panama," Charlie assured the upper crust.

https://p.dw.com/p/1IQ6p
Frankreich Charlie Hebdo Cover Je suis Panama
Image: picture-alliance/epa/Charlie Hebdo/Majorelle PR

Top political, business and sporting figures reeling from their offshore banking activities making the front pages of newspapers around the world got a backhanded boost from an unlikely source on Wednesday.

French satire magazine "Charlie Hebdo" depicted a caricatured group of cigar-smoking people holding signs reading "Je suis Panama," "Don't be afraid," and "They won't change our way of life."

Headlined "Tax Terrorism," the cover recycled many of the declarations of solidarity made following the terrorist attack at the French magazine in January 2015 that killed 11 people. The French phrase "Je suis," or "I am," followed by a city name after terrorist attacks or by a social cause has gone on to be used on social media on several occasions.

Je suis Panama was not the only time the Paris-based magazine recently grabbed attention. An editorial published in last week's edition was widely regarded as blaming all Muslims for Islamist terrorism. The magazine's cover, addressing the Brussels terror attacks, also came under fire.