Thought for the Week
W/C 19th January 2015
This term we are focussing on
Human Rights
This week we are looking at the right to freedom
of opinion and expression
What has happened in Paris recently?
What’s the story?
Masked men armed with assault rifles and a
rocket launcher entered the office of the
magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris on 7 January
and opened fire on the publication’s journalists
and cartoonists. The editor, a cartoonist known
as Charb, was killed, along with seven other
members of the Charlie Hebdo staff, a visitor to
the offices and a member of maintenance staff.
Two police officers, including Charb's protective
detail, were also killed.
Why was Charlie Hebdo attacked?
It is thought that the attack on Charlie
Hebdo was motivated by the magazine's
decision to publish cartoons of the Prophet
Muhammad. It has caused offence with
cartoons in the past: in 2011 it published work
that depicted the Prophet Muhammad with
gruesomely exaggerated facial features.
The Charlie Hebdo headquarters were attacked
by a firebomb shortly afterwards
What are the human rights at
stake?
The attack upon Charlie Hebdo has prompted a
fierce debate on the nature of freedom of the
press. The French public have reacted strongly in
favour of the magazine’s right to publish their
cartoons, arguing that the terrorists should not
be affect freedom of the press. Support for the
magazine and its belief in freedom of expression
has been shown on social media with the
hashtag #jesuisCharlie.
Some Muslim figures, however, while
condemning the massacre, have insisted that as
depicting Muhammad is forbidden in their
religion, publications should have more respect
for their cultural concerns. Some argue that the
human right not to be persecuted collides
with Charlie Hebdo’s publishing practices. While
not justifying the attacks in any way, this offers
some explanation as to why some Muslims in
France might be offended by the magazine’s
content.
Discussion
1) Why is it important to have freedom to
express yourself?
2) Does this mean that you can say whatever
you want?
3) What shouldn’t you be allowed to say?