Double standards in French laws risk lives

I agree with the writer of the commentary “Charlie Hebdo horror is not an attack on free speech” (Jan 13).

I was glad, but surprised, to read that France has hate-speech laws, “which forbid public defamation or insults towards any particular group, whether defined by religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation or handicap”.

Why then allow publications such as Charlie Hebdo to publish provocative cartoons and articles that mock religions, including Islam?

That is to practise double standards, which is dangerous and has now caused preventable deaths.

Such abuse of the freedoms of expression, speech and the press will create more extremism and give terrorists the excuse to abuse the name of religion for their horrendous, revengeful agendas.

The extremists did not attack free speech but those who abused it to disrespect religion.

They attacked France and its double standards.

The laws need to be changed.