New | Barbaric attack on Charlie Hebdo a blot on France's years of tolerance
While the attack was an unacceptable assault on freedom of expression, we must also respect the sensibilities of people who do not find parody of their religion funny
Utter horror. That was my immediate reaction, like many other people, as I followed the unfolding news of the brazen terrorist attack on Charlie Hebdo in broad daylight at the heart of this enchanting city.
There is no other way to describe the slaughter of 12 innocent citizens, most of whom were journalists at work in their office, as other than barbaric and totally unacceptable in a civilised society.
The victims and their loved ones deserve our utmost sympathy. But we will all also be victims if we let increasing intolerance among people of different religions, cultures and views overtake us.
Although this was the most deadly act of terrorism on French soil for two decades, it did not entirely come as a surprise.
In recent weeks, news of “lone wolf” terrorist acts in Sydney, Ottawa and New York filled the headlines. The French government had repeatedly warned the public of the potential threat posed here by returning, native-born jihadists from the conflicts in the Middle East.
Anti-terror police presence in the streets of Paris had been noticeably stepped up. “What if” thoughts crossed my mind whenever I found myself in crowded public places during the year-end holidays.
Then there was the fact that the Paris publication that the presumed Islamic jihadists targeted had a history of provoking Muslim anger and had its offices firebombed three years ago. Charlie Hebdo is an irreverent and bitingly sarcastic magazine in the long tradition of news satire. It thrives on lampooning anyone and everything, often pushing the envelope on delicate social issues.