The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is planning to sue French magazine Charlie Hebdo for publishing blasphemous cartoons, Secretary General Iyad Madani has told a Saudi newspaper.

“OIC is studying Europe and French laws and other available procedures to be able to take legal action against Charlie Hebdo,” Madani was quoted as saying by Arab News.

“If French laws allow us to take legal procedures against Charlie Hebdo, OIC will not hesitate to prosecute the French magazine.”

In its first publication after several of its staff were killed during an attack on its Paris office on January 7, the satirical magazine again published images of the Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him). It is haram in Islam to depict living things, particularly the Prophet.

“This is an idiotic step that requires necessary legal measures,” a comment written in Arabic on Madani’s Twitter account said.

“These cartoons have hurt the sentiments of Muslims across the world. Freedom of speech must not become a hate speech and must not offend others. No sane person, irrespective of doctrine, religion or faith, accepts his beliefs being ridiculed.”

Charlie Hebdo is believed to have been targeted because it had published cartoons depicting the Prophet and others that some Muslims said were offensive on several occasions.

Other European magazines and newspapers also re-published the original offending cartoon after the attack.