Le blog de Romain Lambic

11:30 AM, Paris. Two masked men broke into the newsroom of Charlie Hebdo at the very heart of Paris. They shot everybody with automatic weapons causing chaos in the neighborhood.

After a big silence the terrorists shouted : « We have  killed Charlie Hebdo, Prophet Mahommet is avenged ! » Charlie Hebdo is – or maybe was – a weekly satirical newspaper known for its caricatures about religion, politics and social issues. The three terrorists ran away and haven’t been arrested yet. The provisional death toll is horrendous: 12 people died during the attack.

This is the worst terrorist attack in France since 1945. Why this horrible attack against one of the most famous satirical newspaper in France? Because every week they publish a lot of caricatures to illustrate their articles. Sometimes provocative. 

In November, 2011, Charlie Hebdo’s newsroom was destroyed by a criminal fire provoked as a result of acontroversial cover.

After this disaster, they published the next edition with this cover:

"Love is stronger than hate"

Since then Charlie Hebdo had been receiving regular threats. Other attacks had failed. Until today. This is a black day for journalism. All forms of journalism. Not only in France. 

Wee may be afraid but in support of Charlie Hebdo, for the freedom of the press, in France and throughout the world, we must continue working. We need to continue our fight against the people who want to shut us up.

Charlie Hebdo may be dead. But journalism has to gain in experience and confidence, and keep fighting for its  freedom. We will respond with words against these criminals who pretend to defend « Mahommet » while in fact they are neither Muslims nor humans. No, journalism will never die. 

Terrorism won’t have the upperhand. These people attackted us ? Our words are louder than bombs or any other weapon. All our thoughts go to the dead cartoonists, journalists and policemen who fought with their lives to defend a certain idea of civilization.

For them we have to continue the fight. We are all Charlie.

Romain Lambic