World Jewish leaders condemned the massacre of at least 12 people in the Paris offices of the weekly satirical magazine ‘Charlie Hebdo’ on Wednesday, which was reportedly carried out by Islamist terrorists identifying themselves as al-Qaeda members.
World Jewish Congress (WJC) President Ronald S. Lauder reacted with shock at the ‘’heinous act of terror aimed at the free press in France and beyond.”
He urged the West to stand united against this menace and act strongly against all those who spread hatred and intolerance in our societies.
In 2011, Charlie Hebdo published controversial cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed and its offices were firebombed and have since been under police surveillance.
“Three years after the massacre at a Jewish school in Toulouse, and eight months after the deadly attack at the Jewish Museum in Brussels, were are faced with yet another brutal Islamist terror attack in Western Europe. This time, the target was the media, but it affects all of us. We must not be intimidated by their campaign and must uphold and defend our Western values, including that of freedom of expression,” Lauder stated.
Roger Cukierman, president of CRIF, the umbrella representative group of French Jewish organisations and a Vice-President of the World Jewish Congress, also strongly condemned the terrorist attack. “Today, France is in shock. We mourn the victims of this despicable crime and send our condolences to their families.
He described the attack as an ‘’assault on French democracy.’’
“This attack requires a strong and determined response not just by France, but by the European Union as a whole. There are people – a small minority, but a dangerous one nonetheless - living in our midst who cannot stand openness, diversity, a pluralistic press and freedom of religious worship. Islamist terrorism is the main threat to our security and well-being today, and it must be fought vigorously everywhere because it is a poison for our societies,” Cukierman said.
Cukierman also warned that the sense of insecurity among French Jews will increase as a result.
Hours after the attack took place, twelve people were reported to have been murdered, among them the magazine’s editor, Stephane Charbonnier. Around 20 are injured, with four people in critical condition. Corine Rey, a Charlie Hebdo cartoonist, said she was forced at gunpoint to lead the assailants, who were armed with Kalashnikov rifles and a rocket-propelled grenade, into the magazine’s building. Rey said the terrorists spoke “perfect French” and identified themselves as Al Qaeda.
“This is a fight the Islamists are fighting all over the world – from Syria to Iraq, from Mali to Gaza, and now to Paris,” Cukierman said.
“The Islamists want to impose shari’a law on the rest of the world. We have to understand that this is a matter of life or death for western democracies.”
Cukierman pointed out that French Jews were already anxious about their security before Wednesday’s attack.
In a televised address on Wednesday night, French President Francois Hollande said that all potential terrorist targets across France have been put under the highest protection, adding that several possible incidents had been foiled in recent weeks.
Asked about the reaction of French Muslim leaders to the attack, Cukierman said that many of them had condemned it without reservation, though some “had their usual reaction, talking about Islamophobia and pushing responsibility onto the magazine.” In 2012, Charlie Hebdo published cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed, including a cover image showing him being pushed in a wheelchair by an orthodox Jew.
On the cover of this week’s edition, Charlie Hebdo featured French writer Michel Houellebecq, whose latest book “Soumission,” in which he imagines a France run by a Muslim president, has stirred a controversy in France.
“I hope that western countries will fight this phenomenon with all their energy,” Cukierman implored.
In New York, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) expressed horror and outrage at the brutal escalation in violent radical Islamist terrorism.
In a statement, Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, declared : ‘’We are outraged and horrified by this terror attack which was a dreadful reminder of the terror attacks at the Jewish school in Toulouse and the Jewish museum in Brussels. French authorities rightly declared this horrific attack to be against the French Republic, just as they have when radical Islamists have attacked French Jews and Jewish institutions.’’
‘’Radical Islamist terrorists targeted a French symbol of press freedom. While we have criticized Charlie Hebdo’s insulting caricatures in the past, terrorism is never justified and freedom of the press must be protected. Newspapers must be free to publish controversial content, not without criticism, but without intimidation or violence,’’ Foxman added.
‘’The swift and unconditional condemnations by mainstream French Muslim leaders should be highlighted and should focus anger and blame where they belong – on the terrorists and their sympathizers, who oppose freedom of speech, freedom of press, and freedom of religion,’’ he added.