World
January 7, 2025 10:09
paris - Charlie Hebdo, the French satirical weekly magazine, commemorates the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attack that shook the world and ignited discussions on freedom of speech.
Precisely ten years ago, on January 7, 2015, the terrorist attack on Charlie Hebdo took place, sparking a worldwide debate on freedom of expression. The attack led to a massive demonstration on January 11, 2015, where four million people marched through the streets of France carrying banners with the slogan 'Je suis Charlie' to defend freedom of speech. Former President François Hollande led the procession in Paris, accompanied by political figures from around the world, a scene that is almost unimaginable today.
In a recent statement to the French media, Hollande described the march as a collective effort to defend universal values, celebrate freedom of speech, support the police, combat anti-Semitism, and fight fanaticism. However, ten years later, the unity seems to have dissipated. Socialist lawmaker Jérôme Guedj acknowledged a prevailing cultural relativism over republican universalism, particularly concerning freedom of speech, blasphemy, and disrespect, leading to self-censorship out of fear of offense.
Leftist politician Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who once referred to religious fanatics as 'our cruelest, most constant, most stubborn enemies,' has shifted his stance significantly since then. Philippe Val, former director of Charlie Hebdo, expressed concerns over the retreat of secularism in France and criticized political leaders for abandoning the spirit that unified the country in 2015. He lamented the lack of attention to such critical issues during subsequent presidential elections. Val criticized leftist politics for attracting voters who oppose France, the Republic, and democracy, accusing them of labeling dissenters as fascists or far-right extremists.
Val stood by his decision to publish the cartoons in 2006, considering it a matter of preserving press freedom. Today, the values of Charlie Hebdo, including humor, satire, freedom of speech, ecology, secularism, and feminism, are facing unprecedented challenges. Laurent Sourisseau, the current editor-in-chief of Charlie Hebdo, emphasized that the desire to laugh will never fade, despite threats to democracy by dark forces.
The special edition of Charlie Hebdo released on January 7 features reflections on the past decade marked by deteriorating geopolitics. The magazine also presents the results of a survey conducted by the French research firm Ifop for the Jean Jaurès think tank, revealing that 76 percent of French citizens view freedom of speech as a fundamental right, including the freedom of caricature. The issue includes four pages of cartoons of God submitted by cartoonists worldwide, demonstrating Charlie Hebdo's unwavering commitment to free expression.