Charlie Hebdo named Islamophobe of the Year by Muslim group IHRC

Charlie Hebdo magazine has won an international award for 'Islamophobe of the year' from a Muslim group in Britain.

The Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) said the French magazine's portrayal of Muslims earned it the award, at a central London bash last weekend (7 March).

In a move seemingly calibrated to troll critics of Islam, the satire magazine was handed the 'honour' only weeks after 10 of its journalists were gunned down in a massacre by Islamist gunmen in Paris.

The magazine repeatedly lampooned the Muslim Prophet Mohammed in its pages, along with other symbols of power and authority. A special edition after the shocking killings, which featured Mohammed on the cover, sold more than five million copies.

Defending the move, IHRC chairman Massoud Shadjareh told IBTimes UK: "If you are saying that satire should be disassociated from Islamphobic attacks, then surely satire can also be disassociated from the attacks [on Hebdo]."

Nearly 100,000 votes for Hebdo were cast by members of the public in the international Islamophobe category at the Islamophobia Awards, he said.

The event was endorsed by figures including Dr Rowan Williams, the former Archbishop of Canterbury and former Telegraph whistleblower Peter Oborne.

Shadjareh said the award for Hebdo was designed to show satirical humour was something in which Muslims could participate, alongside iconoclastic publications such as Charlie Hebdo.

"The reality is that this is a satirical thing and if people think Muslims should be on the receiving end of satire, then why cannot Muslims give it, too? The point made against Muslims regularly is that they do not have a sense of honour; they are portrayed as being dry and angry, but we have a sense of humour and we can give it back."

The IHRC is a prominent Muslim group with ties to the United Nations.

IBTimes UK has contacted Charlie Hebdo for a comment.