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Extra copies of Charlie Hebdo to hit Germany

Germany will get more copies of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, a spokeswoman for distribution company Deutsche Pressevertrieb (DPV) said on Tuesday.

Extra copies of Charlie Hebdo to hit Germany
A sign at a press kiosk reads "Charlie Hebdo is sold out". Photo: DPA

The magazine's special edition, produced immediately after the attack by Islamist gunmen on January 6th, sold out in minutes last weekend after only 5,000 copies were delivered to shops in Germany.

But DPV says a further 30,000 will be available in kiosks from Saturday – a far cry from the seven million printed in France.

The news came the day after French author Michel Houllebecq, who published a novel called "Submission" (the literal translation of "Islam") the day of the attacks, spoke to a crowd in Cologne.

Some spectators had given away or returned their tickets – possibly out of fear of violence.

Houllebecq argues that his book – in which a fundamentalist Muslim politician is elected to the French presidency and imposes Sharia law – is not really an attack on Muslims.

In fact, he says, he attacks all illiberal politicians alike – including France's anti-Muslim Front National – along with their apathetic and easily-manipulated enablers among the public.

"If I had known about this before, I would have written my thoughts more cleanly, then everything would have been clearer", he told the audience.

SEE ALSO: "Islamophobic" novel hits the shelves in France

PARIS

Fluffy nuisance: Outcry as Paris sends Invalides rabbits into exile

Efforts to relocate wild rabbits that are a common sight on the lawns of the historic Invalides memorial complex have provoked criticism from animal rights groups.

Fluffy nuisance: Outcry as Paris sends Invalides rabbits into exile

Tourists and Parisians have long been accustomed to the sight of wild rabbits frolicking around the lawns of Les Invalides, one of the French capital’s great landmarks.

But efforts are underway to relocate the fluffy animals, accused of damaging the gardens and drains around the giant edifice that houses Napoleon’s tomb, authorities said.

Police said that several dozen bunnies had been captured since late January and relocated to the private estate of Breau in the Seine-et-Marne region outside Paris, a move that has prompted an outcry from animal rights activists.

“Two operations have taken place since 25 January,” the police prefecture told AFP.

“Twenty-four healthy rabbits were captured on each occasion and released after vaccination” in Seine-et-Marne, the prefecture said.

Six more operations are scheduled to take place in the coming weeks.

Around 300 wild rabbits live around Les Invalides, according to estimates.

“The overpopulation on the site is leading to deteriorating living conditions and health risks,” the prefecture said.

Authorities estimate the cost of restoring the site, which has been damaged by the proliferation of underground galleries and the deterioration of gardens, pipes and flora, at €366,000.

Animal rights groups denounced the operation.

The Paris Animaux Zoopolis group said the rabbits were being subjected to “intense stress” or could be killed “under the guise of relocation”.

“A number of rabbits will die during capture and potentially during transport,” said the group, accusing authorities of being “opaque” about their methods.

The animal rights group also noted that Breau was home to the headquarters of the Seine-et-Marne hunting federation.

The police prefecture insisted that the animals would not be hunted.

In 2021, authorities classified the rabbits living in Paris as a nuisance but the order was reversed following an outcry from animal groups who have been pushing for a peaceful cohabitation with the animals.

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