Top cartoonist quits Charlie Hebdo, says work without colleagues is torture

Renald Luzier drew French satirical newspaper’s first cover after January terror attack; says he’ll no longer draw Muhammad

Cartoonist Renald Luzier, known as Luz, attends a press conference in Paris, France, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2015. (photo credit: AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Cartoonist Renald Luzier, known as Luz, attends a press conference in Paris, France, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2015. (photo credit: AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

PARIS (AP) — French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo is facing new problems, with a top cartoonist leaving because of the emotional burden after extremists killed his colleagues, and divisions over how to use donations from around the world.

Cartoonist Renald Luzier, who drew the newspaper’s first cover after the Jan. 7 attack killed 12 people, said in an interview Tuesday in the daily Liberation that each issue is “torture, because the others are no longer there.” He will leave in September.

He also says he will no longer draw the Prophet Muhammad. Charlie Hebdo was criticized for its prophet drawings.

Meanwhile, the long-struggling paper’s editorial staff and management disagree over the 4.3 million euros in donations received since January. The editor and publisher said a special commission will determine how to use it.

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