A NEWSAGENTS in Oxford has abandoned plans to sell the latest edition of Charlie Hebdo after being threatened.

As reported in Saturday’s Oxford Mail, Wendy News in Broad Street, Oxford, had ordered around 500 copies of the weekly magazine, whose latest edition features a cartoon of the Muslim Prophet Muhammad on the front page.

But yesterday owner Adam Esmail said they had since decided not to sell them because of the backlash. He said: “We have been unable to get hold of copies yet and because of threats we have received over the last few days from around the UK we won’t be selling the magazine.

“We don’t want to provoke Muslim people, I am a Muslim myself.”

The newsagents ordered the copies after more than 600 customers requested the magazine.

Five million copies have been printed to satisfy increased demand for the edition since the terrorist attacks on the Charlie Hebdo office in Paris on January 7, which left 12 people dead.

The shop owner said his staff had received a phone call on Monday night from someone threatening to burn the shop down.

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Shop worker Hamid Hadi decided to call the police after his cousin received the call.

He said: “We’ve had lots of texts, messages on Facebook and calls asking why we are selling it.

“My cousin was working and he had a call saying ‘I know where you are, I know where your shop is and I know what I’m going to do in your shop.’ “We called the police and after they came out we decided we wouldn’t be selling the magazine.”

Thames Valley Police spokeswoman Rhianne Pope confirmed officers were called to the newsagents after they reported a threat was made on the phone on Monday night.

She said: “We take allegations of this nature very seriously and are fully investigating.

“Officers are in direct communication with the newsagents and we are working to make sure the shop can go about their daily business.”

Director of Oxford Islamic Information Centre Dr Hojjat Ramzy said the violent threats could reflect badly on the majority of Muslims.

He said: “I completely condemn these threats. It is totally wrong.

“They are changing the way people see our religion, as an evil caricature of Islam.

“They are hurting us badly.

“They are going to the extreme.

“We should let it go, let it pass and pray for peace.”

He added: “Newsagents have a right to sell it, but in my opinion it is wrong.”

Oxford East MP Andrew Smith said: “Intimidation and violence are totally unacceptable, as all the religious and political leaders in Britain have made clear.

“One of the best things about our country is tolerance and understanding between those of all religious faiths and none.

“We must stand united against those who would try and use fear to create tension and divide communities. The police must do all they can to bring to justice those making threats.”

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