‘Without freedom of speech, we are dead’

The editor of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo once told an interviewer he would “rather die” than be censored.

Stephane Charbonnier also known as Charb. (File: AP Photo/Michel Euler, File)

Stephane Charbonnier was defending his newspaper’s publication of controversial images of the Prophet Mohammed in an interview with America’s ABC News in 2012.

“We are provocative today, we will be provocative tomorrow,” he said.

“Our job is not to defend freedom of speech, but without freedom of speech, we are dead.”

“We can’t live in a country without freedom of speech; I prefer to die than live like a rat.”

He added: “I haven’t the time to be afraid.”

Stephane Charbonnier, who went by the pen name ‘Charb’, was reportedly among 12 people shot dead as masked gunmen stormed the offices of Charlie Hebdo in Paris on Wednesday.

The publication has faced threats before, most notably in a 2011 firebomb attack that destroyed its office in the 20^th arrondissement. That attack followed the release of a special edition, titled “Charia Hebdo”.

Charlie Hebdo was renowned for its satirical attacks on politicians and religious leaders of all faiths.