A primary suspect of the Charlie Hebdo shooting has denied any responsibility of the heinous attack that took place in 2015.

&nbsp;Ali Riza Polat, a 35-year-old Franco-Turkish man, who was jailed a few weeks after the attacks said "I am innocent" when he was put on trial on Friday.

"I'm here because certain people, lying squealers, said all sorts of nonsense... but they're lying," he said.

Polat, who was born in Istanbul, moved to France when he was three-years-old. He admitted to taking part in petty crimes at the age of 13 or 14, and usage of drugs, but he denied any involvement in the attack aimed at the magazine's office and other venues in Paris.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/charlie-hebdo-trials-what-the-world-can-learn-from-french-president-emmanuel-macron-324834">Also read|&nbsp;Charlie Hebdo trials: What the world can learn from French President Emmanuel Macron</a>

He has been accused of providing the weapons used by the three gunmen and is facing trial for the charge of complicity in a terrorist act. He is looking at a potential life sentence, if proven guilty. Polat was also accused of trying to flee the country and heading to Syria.

However, labelling himself as "innocent" Polat has denied all claims and has said, "I have nothing to do with them. You cannot kill the innocent... I am not violent."

Polat is&nbsp; being represented by&nbsp;Isabelle Coutant-Peyre&nbsp;who is famous for defending&nbsp;the convicted international terrorist Ilich Ramirez Sanchez, and later marrying him in prison.

A primary suspect of the Charlie Hebdo shooting has denied any responsibility of the heinous attack that took place in 2015. Ali Riza Polat, a 35-year-old Franco-Turkish man, who was jailed a few weeks after the attacks said "I am innocent" when he was put on trial on Friday.

A primary suspect of the Charlie Hebdo shooting has denied any responsibility of the heinous attack that took place in 2015. Ali Riza Polat, a 35-year-old Franco-Turkish man, who was jailed a few weeks after the attacks said "I am innocent" when he was put on trial on Friday. "I'm here because certain people, lying squealers, said all sorts of nonsense... but they're lying," he said. Polat, who was born in Istanbul, moved to France when he was three-years-old. He admitted to taking part in petty crimes at the age of 13 or 14, and usage of drugs, but he denied any involvement in the attack aimed at the magazine's office and other venues in Paris. Also read| Charlie Hebdo trials: What the world can learn from French President Emmanuel Macron He has been accused of providing the weapons used by the three gunmen and is facing trial for the charge of complicity in a terrorist act. He is looking at a potential life sentence, if proven guilty. Polat was also accused of trying to flee the country and heading to Syria. However, labelling himself as "innocent" Polat has denied all claims and has said, "I have nothing to do with them. You cannot kill the innocent... I am not violent." Polat is being represented by Isabelle Coutant-Peyre who is famous for defending the convicted international terrorist Ilich Ramirez Sanchez, and later marrying him in prison.

'I am innocent': Prime suspect of Charlie Hebdo shooting declines all accusations

Five years ago in January 2015, Paris was rocked by a series of terror attacks which killed 17 people. The attacks began&nbsp;on January 07 when two&nbsp;brothers entered the office of French satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo, and opened fire during its edit meeting, killing 12 people.

The terrorists were identified as Saïd and Chérif Kouachi.

Reports claimed that witnesses heard the terrorists shouting&nbsp;"we have avenged the prophet' and 'god is great". The terrorists were neutralised two days later.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-the-charlie-hebdo-trial-324841/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

On the same day, on January 09, a supermarket was attacked where five people were shot.

The attacks were triggered by&nbsp;a series of cartoons published by Charlie Hebdo. The satirical magazine had lampooned prophet Mohammad. To many, it was blasphemy. However, that does not&nbsp;justify killing people in cold blood.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-on-alert-as-charlie-hebdo-reprints-prophet-mohammads-caricature-324588">Also read|&nbsp;France on alert as Charlie Hebdo reprints prophet Mohammad's caricature</a>

Five&nbsp;years on, 14 people are standing trial for the Charlie Hebdo killings. They are facing various charges, including providing arms and logistical support to the terrorists

The trial is being called 'historic'. It is likely to go on for at least 49 days. Reports claim there are at least 200 plaintiffs and&nbsp;144 witnesses are likely to testify in the courtroom. Special viewing galleries have been opened for the public. They can see the accused being tried in the Paris court.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-have-freedom-of-the-press-says-macron-on-charlie-hebdo-row-324656">Also read|&nbsp;We have freedom of the press, says Macron on Charlie Hebdo row</a>

Charlie Hebdo republished the controversial cartoons yesterday to mark the start of the trial.&nbsp;The republishing of the cartoons was aimed at making a statement in support of free speech and expression.

While Charlie Hebdo found support from across the globe, there were others who criticised it for reopening old wounds.&nbsp;Among them was Pakistan. It said "offending billions of muslims cannot be justified as an exercise in press freedom or freedom of expression"

The French President&nbsp;Emmanuel Macron said,&nbsp;"I think the president of the republic in France should never qualify editorial choices of a journalist, editorial staff, never. Because there is a freedom of the press that you are rightly so attached to, deeply."

Macron upheld the freedom of expression. He had the chance to use secularism as an excuse to appease the minority, the nearly five million Muslims of France. However, Macron chose to steer clear of it. Instead, he mentioned that in France you have the freedom to blaspheme, and that blasphemy should not come in between freedom of press or the freedom of expression.

From where I stand, I am here to protect all these freedoms so it's not up to me to qualify the choices of journalists, I can only say that in france, we can criticise governments, presidents, to be blasphemous, etc,"&nbsp;Macron said.

He&nbsp;also added that sketches are not hate speeches. His stand on&nbsp;this controversial issue is exemplary, and there is a lesson for leaders across the globe. It is very easy to succumb to international pressure or&nbsp;slaughter the rights of the majority to appease the minority, or selectively apply the principle of secularism.&nbsp;Standing up for the freedom of expression is never easy, but it is always the right thing to do.

Five years ago in January 2015, Paris was rocked by a series of terror attacks which killed 17 people. The attacks began on January 07 when two brothers entered the office of French satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo, and opened fire during its edit meeting, killing 12 people.

Five years ago in January 2015, Paris was rocked by a series of terror attacks which killed 17 people. The attacks began on January 07 when two brothers entered the office of French satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo, and opened fire during its edit meeting, killing 12 people. The terrorists were identified as Saïd and Chérif Kouachi. Reports claimed that witnesses heard the terrorists shouting "we have avenged the prophet' and 'god is great". The terrorists were neutralised two days later. On the same day, on January 09, a supermarket was attacked where five people were shot. The attacks were triggered by a series of cartoons published by Charlie Hebdo. The satirical magazine had lampooned prophet Mohammad. To many, it was blasphemy. However, that does not justify killing people in cold blood. Also read| France on alert as Charlie Hebdo reprints prophet Mohammad's caricature Five years on, 14 people are standing trial for the Charlie Hebdo killings. They are facing various charges, including providing arms and logistical support to the terrorists The trial is being called 'historic'. It is likely to go on for at least 49 days. Reports claim there are at least 200 plaintiffs and 144 witnesses are likely to testify in the courtroom. Special viewing galleries have been opened for the public. They can see the accused being tried in the Paris court. Also read| We have freedom of the press, says Macron on Charlie Hebdo row Charlie Hebdo republished the controversial cartoons yesterday to mark the start of the trial. The republishing of the cartoons was aimed at making a statement in support of free speech and expression. While Charlie Hebdo found support from across the globe, there were others who criticised it for reopening old wounds. Among them was Pakistan. It said "offending billions of muslims cannot be justified as an exercise in press freedom or freedom of expression" The French President Emmanuel Macron said, "I think the president of the republic in France should never qualify editorial choices of a journalist, editorial staff, never. Because there is a freedom of the press that you are rightly so attached to, deeply." Macron upheld the freedom of expression. He had the chance to use secularism as an excuse to appease the minority, the nearly five million Muslims of France. However, Macron chose to steer clear of it. Instead, he mentioned that in France you have the freedom to blaspheme, and that blasphemy should not come in between freedom of press or the freedom of expression. From where I stand, I am here to protect all these freedoms so it's not up to me to qualify the choices of journalists, I can only say that in france, we can criticise governments, presidents, to be blasphemous, etc," Macron said. He also added that sketches are not hate speeches. His stand on this controversial issue is exemplary, and there is a lesson for leaders across the globe. It is very easy to succumb to international pressure or slaughter the rights of the majority to appease the minority, or selectively apply the principle of secularism. Standing up for the freedom of expression is never easy, but it is always the right thing to do.

Charlie Hebdo trials: What the world can learn from French President Emmanuel Macron

Fourteen suspects will go on trial before a special court in Paris in April 2020 charged over attacks around the French capital in January 2015, including the massacre at the offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, legal sources said on Friday.

The perpetrators were killed by police in the wake of the attacks. But 14 people charged with helping them, three of whom remain on the run, will go on trial from April 20 to July 3, over five years after the atrocities took place, a source close to the case told AFP.

Seventeen people were killed over three days in January 2015 in attacks that shook France and heralded a wave of atrocities by radical Islamists that year.

Cherif Kouachi and his brother Said killed 12 people on January 7, 2015, at the Charlie Hebdo offices, including some of France's best-known cartoonists.

Over the following two days, a third gunman, Amedy Coulibaly, shot dead a young policewoman and killed four people at a Jewish supermarket.

All three gunmen, who had claimed allegiance to jihadist groups, were killed by police.

"One should not give false hopes -- this will be a trial of catharsis which will not provide revelations," said Antoine Comte, the lawyer for the Charlie Hebdo victims.

"The killers are no longer there to take responsibility. People want to know who the masterminds are but four years of the investigation did not bring all the answers," he told AFP.

Key suspects tried in absentia

The suspects will go on trial before a special criminal court solely composed of judges.

Eleven of the suspects are currently in detention, but three are set to be tried in absentia.

They include Hayat Boumedienne, the partner of Coulibaly, who Turkish authorities said at the time had crossed into Syria as her partner shot the policewoman.

Ankara said she flew to Turkey from Spain a few days before the attacks and then crossed into Syria, insisting no warning had come from French authorities about her.

Also on the run are the two Belhoucine brothers, who also left for the Iraq-Syria region just before the attacks.

Unconfirmed reports have said that all three could now be dead after fierce bombing campaigns in the area to defeat the jihadists.

Spanish legal sources have said that Coulibaly drove the Belhoucine brothers and Hayat Boumedienne to Madrid just ahead of the attacks.

The most serious charges have been laid against the elder of the Belhoucine brothers, Mohamed, and Ali Riza Polat, a close friend of Coulibaly who is being held in France.

They are charged with "complicity" in the crimes committed by the three perpetrators.

Ali Riza Polat, who has been in detention for the last four years, is accused of playing a central role in the planning of the attacks and in particular supplying the ammunition used by the attackers.

Biggest trial since Merah

Judicial sources have said investigations in connection with the attacks were continuing, notably in Yemen, which one of the Kouachi brothers visited in 2011.

Investigators are also looking at the extent of collaboration between the Kouachi brothers and Coulibaly.

Responsibility for the attack against Charlie Hebdo was claimed by Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, an offshoot of the main Al-Qaeda organisation.

Another man, French national Peter Cherif, an associate of the Kouachi brothers, was arrested in Djibouti on December 16 and sent to France where he has been charged over a 2011 kidnapping in Yemen.

When it begins in April 2020, the trial of the 14 will be the first such major process against jihadists in France since the 2017 trial over the 2012 attacks by Mohamed Merah.

Merah killed three soldiers in March 2012 before gunning down a rabbi, two of the rabbi's children, aged three and five, and an eight-year-old girl at a Jewish school in Toulouse.

His brother Abdelkader was in April handed a 30-year jail term as an accomplice in the murders.

Fourteen suspects will go on trial before a special court in Paris in April 2020 charged over attacks around the French capital in January 2015, including the massacre at the offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, legal sources said on Friday.

Fourteen suspects will go on trial before a special court in Paris in April 2020 charged over attacks around the French capital in January 2015, including the massacre at the offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, legal sources said on Friday. The perpetrators were killed by police in the wake of the attacks. But 14 people charged with helping them, three of whom remain on the run, will go on trial from April 20 to July 3, over five years after the atrocities took place, a source close to the case told AFP. Seventeen people were killed over three days in January 2015 in attacks that shook France and heralded a wave of atrocities by radical Islamists that year. Cherif Kouachi and his brother Said killed 12 people on January 7, 2015, at the Charlie Hebdo offices, including some of France's best-known cartoonists. Over the following two days, a third gunman, Amedy Coulibaly, shot dead a young policewoman and killed four people at a Jewish supermarket. All three gunmen, who had claimed allegiance to jihadist groups, were killed by police. "One should not give false hopes -- this will be a trial of catharsis which will not provide revelations," said Antoine Comte, the lawyer for the Charlie Hebdo victims. "The killers are no longer there to take responsibility. People want to know who the masterminds are but four years of the investigation did not bring all the answers," he told AFP. Key suspects tried in absentia The suspects will go on trial before a special criminal court solely composed of judges. Eleven of the suspects are currently in detention, but three are set to be tried in absentia. They include Hayat Boumedienne, the partner of Coulibaly, who Turkish authorities said at the time had crossed into Syria as her partner shot the policewoman. Ankara said she flew to Turkey from Spain a few days before the attacks and then crossed into Syria, insisting no warning had come from French authorities about her. Also on the run are the two Belhoucine brothers, who also left for the Iraq-Syria region just before the attacks. Unconfirmed reports have said that all three could now be dead after fierce bombing campaigns in the area to defeat the jihadists. Spanish legal sources have said that Coulibaly drove the Belhoucine brothers and Hayat Boumedienne to Madrid just ahead of the attacks. The most serious charges have been laid against the elder of the Belhoucine brothers, Mohamed, and Ali Riza Polat, a close friend of Coulibaly who is being held in France. They are charged with "complicity" in the crimes committed by the three perpetrators. Ali Riza Polat, who has been in detention for the last four years, is accused of playing a central role in the planning of the attacks and in particular supplying the ammunition used by the attackers. Biggest trial since Merah Judicial sources have said investigations in connection with the attacks were continuing, notably in Yemen, which one of the Kouachi brothers visited in 2011. Investigators are also looking at the extent of collaboration between the Kouachi brothers and Coulibaly. Responsibility for the attack against Charlie Hebdo was claimed by Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, an offshoot of the main Al-Qaeda organisation. Another man, French national Peter Cherif, an associate of the Kouachi brothers, was arrested in Djibouti on December 16 and sent to France where he has been charged over a 2011 kidnapping in Yemen. When it begins in April 2020, the trial of the 14 will be the first such major process against jihadists in France since the 2017 trial over the 2012 attacks by Mohamed Merah. Merah killed three soldiers in March 2012 before gunning down a rabbi, two of the rabbi's children, aged three and five, and an eight-year-old girl at a Jewish school in Toulouse. His brother Abdelkader was in April handed a 30-year jail term as an accomplice in the murders.

Trial over France Charlie Hebdo attacks to begin in April

French prosecutors are calling for 14 people to be tried in connection with the January 2015 jihadist attacks including the massacre at satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, judicial sources said Friday.

It will be up to anti-terrorist judges to decide whether all 14 are tried.

The decision comes nearly four years after brothers Cherif and Said Kouachi and Amedy Coulibaly killed 12 people at the offices of Charlie Hebdo on January 7, 2015.

The next day a policewoman was killed just outside Paris, while another gunman took hostages at a Jewish supermarket, four of whom were killed.

All the attackers were killed in separate shootouts with police.

Authorities said the attackers had claimed allegiance to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State militant group.

Those likely to face trial are accused of "complicity" in assisting the attackers, including providing them with weapons.

Another man, French national Peter Cherif, an associate of the Kouachi brothers, was arrested in Djibouti on December 16, French officials said Friday.

The Djibouti presidency confirmed the arrest, describing Cherif, 36, as "a suspected international terrorist".

Cherif was expected to be extradited from Djibouti. He has not yet been indicted in connection with the Charlie Hebdo attack.&nbsp;

French prosecutors are calling for 14 people to be tried in connection with the January 2015 jihadist attacks including the massacre at satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, judicial sources said Friday.

French prosecutors are calling for 14 people to be tried in connection with the January 2015 jihadist attacks including the massacre at satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, judicial sources said Friday. It will be up to anti-terrorist judges to decide whether all 14 are tried. The decision comes nearly four years after brothers Cherif and Said Kouachi and Amedy Coulibaly killed 12 people at the offices of Charlie Hebdo on January 7, 2015. The next day a policewoman was killed just outside Paris, while another gunman took hostages at a Jewish supermarket, four of whom were killed. All the attackers were killed in separate shootouts with police. Authorities said the attackers had claimed allegiance to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State militant group. Those likely to face trial are accused of "complicity" in assisting the attackers, including providing them with weapons. Another man, French national Peter Cherif, an associate of the Kouachi brothers, was arrested in Djibouti on December 16, French officials said Friday. The Djibouti presidency confirmed the arrest, describing Cherif, 36, as "a suspected international terrorist". Cherif was expected to be extradited from Djibouti. He has not yet been indicted in connection with the Charlie Hebdo attack.

French prosecutors want 14 tried over Charlie Hebdo attacks: Report

A Bulgarian court ordered on Tuesday that the brother-in-law of one of the men who attacked French magazine Charlie Hebdo be extradited to France after he was caught allegedly trying to join Islamic State fighters in Syria. 
 
Mourad Hamyd, 20, whose sister was married to Charlie Hebdo gunman Cherif Kouachi, was barred from entering Turkey late last month and handed over to Bulgaria&#39;s border authorities. 
 
On January 7 2015, the Al-Qaeda-linked Kouachi brothers killed 12 people at the headquarters of the Charlie Hebdo satirical weekly in Paris. 
 
France requested Hamyd&#39;s extradition on July 29, accusing him of &quot;conspiring to prepare of acts of terrorism&quot;. 
 
The route taken by Hamyd -- by train through Austria, Hungary, Serbia, and Bulgaria -- &quot;corresponds to the one traditionally taken by jihadist fighters wanting to join the Islamic State in Syria or Iraq,&quot; French prosecutors said. 
 
Hamyd denied the accusations on Monday, saying he never wanted to go to Syria, denying any links to the Islamic State group that claimed responsibility for the Charlie Hebdo attack. He nevertheless agreed to be extradited. 
 
Sofia City Court&#39;s ruling is final and the transfer of Hamyd to France should happen within a week, the court said. 
 
If found convicted of terrorism offences in Frances, he faces 10 years in jail. 
 
Hamyd first came into the spotlight in the immediate aftermath of the Charlie Hebdo attack, when he was wrongly identified on social media as being among the killers -- along with brothers Cherif and Said Kouachi. 
 
He was taken in for questioning and later freed. 
 
(AFP)

Mourad Hamyd, whose sister was married to Charlie Hebdo gunman Cherif Kouachi, was caught allegedly trying to join IS fighters in Syria

A Bulgarian court ordered on Tuesday that the brother-in-law of one of the men who attacked French magazine Charlie Hebdo be extradited to France after he was caught allegedly trying to join Islamic State fighters in Syria. Mourad Hamyd, 20, whose sister was married to Charlie Hebdo gunman Cherif Kouachi, was barred from entering Turkey late last month and handed over to Bulgaria's border authorities. On January 7 2015, the Al-Qaeda-linked Kouachi brothers killed 12 people at the headquarters of the Charlie Hebdo satirical weekly in Paris. France requested Hamyd's extradition on July 29, accusing him of "conspiring to prepare of acts of terrorism". The route taken by Hamyd -- by train through Austria, Hungary, Serbia, and Bulgaria -- "corresponds to the one traditionally taken by jihadist fighters wanting to join the Islamic State in Syria or Iraq," French prosecutors said. Hamyd denied the accusations on Monday, saying he never wanted to go to Syria, denying any links to the Islamic State group that claimed responsibility for the Charlie Hebdo attack. He nevertheless agreed to be extradited. Sofia City Court's ruling is final and the transfer of Hamyd to France should happen within a week, the court said. If found convicted of terrorism offences in Frances, he faces 10 years in jail. Hamyd first came into the spotlight in the immediate aftermath of the Charlie Hebdo attack, when he was wrongly identified on social media as being among the killers -- along with brothers Cherif and Said Kouachi. He was taken in for questioning and later freed. (AFP)

Bulgaria to extradite Charlie Hebdo killer's relative