The publication of a new cartoon of the Prophet Mohammad by French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo on Wednesday has drawn criticism from several Muslim countries and Islamic bodies, but support from the U.S. and Australia.

The new issue of Charlie Hebdo follows an attack by Islamist gunmen last week at the magazine’s office in Paris which killed 12 people, including five cartoonists.

In defiance of the militants who killed its staff, Charlie Hebdo’s new edition has a cartoon of a tearful depiction of the Prophet on its front page holding a sign saying “Je suis Charlie” (“I am Charlie”). Many Muslims consider any depictions of Prophet Mohammad to be blasphemous.

‘Insulting and provocative’

On Wednesday, Iran said the cover was “insulting” and “provocative.”

The magazine cover “provokes the emotions of Muslims and hurts their feelings around the world, and could fan the flame of a vicious circle of extremism,” said foreign ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham.

Iran had denounced the massacre the day it occurred and Afkham said Wednesday that such attacks “have no closeness or similarity to Islam” and are “in complete contradiction to Islamic teaching”.

However she indicated that the new cartoon was “abuse of freedom of speech, which is common in the West these days.”

Such publication “is not acceptable” and such “abuse should be prevented”.

“Respecting the beliefs and values of followers of divine religions is an acceptable principle,” she added.