Charlie Hebdo: Magazine to publish special edition to mark anniversary of massacre

French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo will publish a special edition to mark the first anniversary of a terrorist attack which killed 12 people at its offices in Paris. The magazine will print about one million copies to be sold worldwide.

The issue will feature cartoons designed by staff who were killed in the attack, as well as works from current employees. The edition will be 32 pages and is expected to hit stands on 6 January 2016. The magazine currently sells around 100,000 copies globally.

During a series of attacks in Paris, primarily targeting the magazine's office, a dozen staff members were slaughtered by two jihadists. Islamists attacked the Charlie Hebdo office as the magazine was known to publish "provocative and irreverent" content on Muhammad, considered a prophet by Muslims.

Large orders have been received for the January 2016 special edition, the highest from Germany, where 50,000 copies are set to be dispatched. The survivor edition, which the magazine had published soon after the attack in 2015, sold a record 7.5 million copies.

The attack significantly boosted the circulation of the magazine, which was financially crippled before January 2015. Prior to the terrorist incident, Charlie Hebdo sold around 30,000 copies a week.

In July, Charlie Hebdo announced that it would no longer publish content lampooning the prophet. Islam prohibits the pictorial depiction of Muhammad.

Editor Laurent Sourisseau told German magazine Stern: "We have drawn Muhammad to defend the principle that one can draw whatever they want. It is a bit strange though: we are expected to exercise a freedom of expression that no one dares to. We've done our job. We have the right to caricature."