Pakistani Man Sentenced to 30 Years for 2020 Cleaver Attack Outside Charlie Hebdo’s Former Offices
A Paris court sentenced 29-year-old Zaheer Mahmood, a Pakistani national, to 30 years in prison on Thursday for attempting to murder two people with a meat cleaver outside the former offices of Charlie Hebdo in 2020. Mahmood, who carried out the attack under the mistaken belief that the satirical newspaper still operated from the location, was also convicted of terrorist conspiracy.
The attack gravely injured two employees of the Premieres Lignes news agency, who were at the site of Charlie Hebdo’s old address. During the trial, Mahmood’s defense lawyer, Alberic de Gayardon, acknowledged that Mahmood’s intent was to kill but argued that his actions stemmed from a sense of alienation.
“In his head, he had never left Pakistan,” Gayardon said, adding that Mahmood struggled to integrate into French society after arriving illegally in 2019, living and working solely within the Pakistani community in France.
The court also ruled that Mahmood will be banned from France following the completion of his sentence.
Historical Context
The attack evoked painful memories of the 2015 massacre at Charlie Hebdo, where 12 people, including eight members of the newspaper’s editorial team, were killed by Al-Qaeda-linked gunmen. That incident sparked a global debate about freedom of expression and religious sensitivities, symbolized by the solidarity slogan “Je Suis Charlie” (“I Am Charlie”).
Charlie Hebdo had relocated after the 2015 attack, but Mahmood, unaware of this, targeted the old address. His assault occurred shortly after the newspaper republished the controversial caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad in September 2020 to mark the opening of the trial for the 2015 attack.
The 2015 massacre and subsequent attacks in France by individuals inspired by Al-Qaeda and Daesh have profoundly impacted the country, fueling debates over religious tensions, national security, and freedom of speech.
Sentencing and Aftermath
The court dismissed Mahmood’s claims of cultural and social disconnect as justification for his actions, emphasizing the gravity of his attack. The sentence reflects France’s firm stance against acts of terrorism, which continue to cast a shadow over the nation.
