Two dozen writers join Charlie Hebdo PEN award protest | Books | The Guardian

"There is a critical difference between staunchly supporting expression that violates the acceptable, and enthusiastically rewarding such expression," the letter reads. "The magazine seems to be entirely sincere in its anarchic expressions of disdain toward organized religion. But in an unequal society, equal opportunity offense does not have an equal effect.

"Power and prestige are elements that must be recognized in considering almost any form of discourse, including satire."