PARIS, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- The French magazine editor whose offices were attacked after publishing cartoons mocking the Prophet Muhammad said he published a comic book on Islam's founder.
Stephane Charbonnier, editor of the Charlie Hebdo weekly satiric publication, said the new book "The Life of Mohammed [Muhammad]," was properly researched and is educational work prepared by a Franco-Tunisian sociologist, Radio France Internationale reported Wednesday.
"It is a biography authorized by Islam since it was edited by Muslims," Charbonnier said.
"We hear about him all the time, and we don't always have the best impression of him," Charbonnier said. "So we decided to tell his life -- his real life. I would like those people who make use of the concept of [Muhammad] ... to read this book."
Charbonnier said he first thought about such a book in 2006, when a newspaper in Denmark published cartoons of Mohammed that sparked protests across the Muslim world.
In September,Charlie Hebdo published cartoons of a naked Muhammad as protests occurred in several countries over a U.S.-produced film that denigrated the prophet. In 2011 Charlie Hebdo's offices were firebombed and its website hijacked after publishing an edition featuring several Muhammad cartoons.
