A carnival in Germany dropped plans of building a Charlie Hebdo float, featuring a cartoonist forcing a pencil into a gun barrel, after receiving requests from locals not to offend Muslims.

Jitters over public displays of images or words that might offend Muslims have risen in different parts of Europe ever since two Islamist gunmen stormed into the Paris headquarters of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo on January 7 and shot down 12 of its most reputed cartoonists and journalists. Charlie Hebdo has had a long history of ridiculing Islam and other religions and the magazine vowed no change in approach even after the brutal massacre.

Explaining their decision, the committee organizing the carnival in Cologne said they wanted to keep intact the event’s lighthearted ethos and ensure nobody felt offended or afraid. They also clarified that the police had assured them no risk had they decided in favour of the float, which had been chosen through an online vote.

“We want all visitors, locals and participants in Rose Monday's carnival parade to freely experience a joyful carnival without any worries. We don't want a satirical float, which weighs on the freedom and lighthearted mood of carnival,” the organizers said in a statement.

The traditional parade on Rose Monday is the highlight of the carnival, where satirical floats ridiculing politicians and international events follow a seven kilometer route, with participants tossing chocolates and sweets to audiences of up to 1.2 million. Cologne, the fourth largest city in Germany, has a population of more than one million, that includes several thousand Muslim inhabitants.

Photo Credits: DW