The French people are in shock this evening, as they come to terms with the horrific events which took place in their capital earlier today. Three hooded gunmen armed with Kalashnikovs attacked the Paris offices of the Charlie Hebdo satirical magazine, killing 12 and seriously injuring at least five more. While the nation mourns the dead, questions are also being raised as to how this will impact on the freedom of speech. The attacks are widely believed to be linked to the magazine’s anti-religious stance, particularly in relation to Islam. World leaders have already condemned the attacks, as have the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and several Eurovision stars. You can read a selection of the responses below.
The EBU
EBU utterly condemns attack on @Charlie_Hebdo_ journalists in Paris. We value freedom of speech as an essential part of a democratic society
— EBU EUROVISION (@EBU_Eurovision) January 7, 2015
Anggun (France 2012)
L’horreur.. #CharlieHebdo — Anggun Official (@Anggun_Cipta) January 7, 2015
How did we come to this? The world became a horrible place where evil is everywhere,hate is cultivated, vengeance is justified #CharieHebdo
— Anggun Official (@Anggun_Cipta) January 7, 2015
pic.twitter.com/eiGexCuFPU — Anggun Official (@Anggun_Cipta) January 7, 2015
Amandine Bourgeois (France 2013)
Natasha St-Pier (France 2001)
Ira Losco (Malta 2002)
Axel Hirsoux (Belgium 2014)
#JeSuisCharlie pic.twitter.com/W27n8TxqFC
— Axel Hirsoux (@Axelhirsoux) January 7, 2015
@David That is a bit mean considering that very few Muslims actually believe that the attacks were appropriate. Therefore not all Muslims are bad. Also there are obviously other religions that have bad bad people so why are just picking on the Muslims? I know this article is about an attack by 3 Muslim men, but seriously? Only Muslims are bad? Wow, you have a lot to learn about the world… I also looked up Charlie Hebdo on Google and I was actually disgusted at the cartoons on it. I dint agree with the attacks but I also don’t agree… Read more »
@David
There are no bad religions, only bad people.
Anggun really has a point. What is with people trying to destroy the image of the religion or race that they are affiliated with. Why do they have to drag others into their own problems? If they hate something, they shouldn’t go so far to the extent that they drag the innocent people who share the same nationality or religion as they do.
Because you know what, that logic is the reason why the Tolmachevy Sisters got booed when they performed at the Eurovision last year and the reason why innocent Muslims have been targets of hate crimes.
This is why the world will never be peaceful. Religion, along with power, land and money are all things that cause so many problems and lead to so many disagreements, which in turn will never result in world peace. It’s disgusting.
A chaque pas que l’on fera, à chaque geste qu’on offrira,
ce sera le début d’un autre demain.
Dans chaque mot que l’on dira, dans ce futur qu’on construira,
c’est l’amour que dessineront nos mains.
Religion strikes again
Je suis Carlie aussi Seeing this live on TV today was so sickening. France enshrines free speech and the freedom of the press, and no one should take that away from us. Charlie Hedbo satirizes all religion, mainly Catholicism, you don’t see preists with rocket launches and sub machines in the Parisian boulevards. We just need to remember that these people are not Muslims. They should not be shown to represent GENERALLY PEACEFUL religion. All the Muslims I know are peaceful and respect all religions. Let’s not tie the whole of Islam with the same brush of a few gun… Read more »
I totally agree with Aggun. Let’s face it, we’re basically at the dawn of World War III.
r.i.p
EBU..Freedom of speech..I guess that didnt apply in eurovision 2009 when EBU accepted the rainbow flag forbid in the arena in Moscow…