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Nicaragua denies entry to cartoonist from French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo

Associated Press
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French ambassador in Nicaragua, Antoine Joly speaks next to a projection with a portrait of French cartoonist Jul during the inauguration ceremony of the "Centroamerica Cuenta" writer's meeting in Managua, Nicaragua, Tuesday, May 19, 2015. Jul was refused entry into Nicaragua by immigration authorities as he arrived to participate in the tribute to Charly Hebdo. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix) (The Associated Press)

Nicaraguan writer Sergio Ramirez speaks next to a projection with a portrait of French cartoonist Jul during the inauguration ceremony of the "Centroamerica Cuenta" writer's meeting in Managua, Nicaragua, Tuesday, May 19, 2015. Jul was refused entry into Nicaragua by immigration authorities as he arrived to participate in the tribute to Charly Hebdo. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix) (The Associated Press)

ADDS DATE OF WHEN CARTOONIST WAS TOLD HE WAS DENIED ENTRY INTO NICARAGUA - French ambassador in Nicaragua, Antoine Joly speaks next to a projection with a portrait of French cartoonist Jul during the inauguration ceremony of the "Centroamerica Cuenta" writer's meeting in Managua, Nicaragua, Tuesday, May 19, 2015. Jul said he was contacted on Sunday, May 10, by Antoine Joly, the French ambassador in Nicaragua that he had been refused entry into the country by Immigration authorities. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix) (The Associated Press)

The government of Nicaragua has denied entry to a cartoonist from the French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo, though the reason remained unclear.

Charlie Hebdo cartoonist Julien Berjeaut was scheduled to participate on a panel called "Humor against barbarity, homage to Charlie Hebdo and freedom of expression." Instead, the cartoonist known as Jul said through a video message that Nicaragua's government apparently did not want him to attend so he remained in Costa Rica.

The director of Nicaragua's immigration agency was not immediately available to comment. France's ambassador in Nicaragua, Antoine Joly, said he did not know why Berjeaut was barred.

In January, a terror attack in Paris on the offices of Charlie Hebdo left 12 dead. The magazine had lampooned religions and used depictions of the Prophet Muhammad.