France Sends Aircraft Carrier to the Middle East to Combat 'Islamic Caliphate'

On Wednesday, January 24, France announced that it would increase its cooperation with the U.S.-led coalition against the group known as the Islamic Caliphate by sending the aircraft carrier 'Charles de Gaulle' to the Middle East. Following last week's armed attack in Paris that resulted in the deaths of 20 people, including three armed Islamist extremists, French President Francois Hollande stated, 'The current situation justifies our aircraft carriers' presence in the region.' The carrier is set to operate in collaboration with the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria. France has been involved in airstrikes against Islamic State positions since the beginning of the campaign. One of the armed attackers claimed to be affiliated with the so-called 'Islamic State' or ISIS. Meanwhile, the French government has instructed prosecutors across the country to take a strong stance against hate speech, anti-Semitism, and the glorification of terrorism. According to the Associated Press, France arrested 54 people last week in connection with hate speech and support for terrorism. Concurrently, all copies of the latest issue of 'Charlie Hebdo' magazine sold out in Paris and its suburbs. The new issue of the satirical magazine, featuring a cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad on its cover, became unavailable at newsstands early Wednesday morning. Following last week's attack, France deployed 10,000 military personnel and 120,000 police and security forces to sensitive locations, including Jewish schools, synagogues, mosques, and travel hubs. Security measures in France have been intensified, and the search for potential accomplices of the armed attackers continues. However, none of the 54 individuals arrested were linked to the attack. The French Ministry of Justice stated that the 54 individuals arrested in recent days, including four minors, were convicted under special emergency punishment laws. Under these regulations, verbal defense of terrorism carries a five-year prison sentence, and publishing material online can result in a seven-year prison sentence. The Associated Press further notes that security measures following the attack on the Charlie Hebdo office have raised questions about the French Socialist government's approach to freedom of expression, which it has always staunchly defended. One of the recent detainees is 'Dieudonné,' a popular and controversial comedian who has been accused multiple times of racism and anti-Semitism. France, like many European countries, has strict laws against hate speech, especially anti-Semitic remarks or actions. The French Minister of Justice sent a message to all judges and prosecutors in the country outlining the legal basis for combating defenders of the armed attacks in Paris and those committing racist and anti-Semitic acts and statements. This directive does not specifically mention Islam. The Ministry of Justice stated that this directive was issued to protect freedom of expression against phrases that incite violence and hatred. The Associated Press reports that this regulation also warns about vigilance regarding any incidents that may lead to violence against police. It appears that the French government is concerned about a repeat of the riots that occurred a decade ago in the poor and deprived immigrant neighborhoods of Paris. On the other hand, a key leader of Al-Qaeda in Yemen claimed responsibility for the attack on the Charlie Hebdo office on Wednesday. In a video, he referred to the massacre as 'revenge for the Prophet.' The Charlie Hebdo magazine has been threatened multiple times for publishing cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad. While 'Nasir al-Ansi,' a key commander of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, stated in an 11-minute video that Al-Qaeda in Yemen 'selects targets, determines the attack plan, and finances the operations,' U.S. intelligence officials say they have no information to confirm this claim. Several U.S. security officials, who wished to remain anonymous, added that there is no evidence to suggest that Al-Qaeda in Yemen coordinated the attack or was aware of it in advance. Last week's armed attack on the Charlie Hebdo office resulted in the deaths of 12 employees and three days of bloody clashes in the suburbs of Paris, leaving 17 victims. The staff of Charlie Hebdo published the new issue of the magazine in a temporary rented office, which was printed in three million copies on Wednesday, 50 times its usual circulation.