Photos: Daring covers of 'Charlie Hebdo'

A French satirical newspaper called Charlie Hebdo, involved in a terror attack Wednesday that killed 12 people, published daringly provocative covers through the years.

The publication's depictions of Islam had attracted heat before — it was firebombed in 2011.

Paste BN's Rem Rieder points out Charlie Hebdo has been provocative, not to say offensive.

That's what it does for a living. There is value in the in-your-face, over-the-top satire that has been its stock in trade.

Rieder adds, that to its credit, Charlie Hebdo has been an equal-opportunity offender. It recently published a "debate" on whether Jesus actually existed.

In a Paste BN editorial, the newspaper said, "The satirists might be unlikely heroes, but they are heroes nevertheless."

Paste BN wrote that the cartoonists supported the values of free expression, which they chose to exercise despite threats.'