PARIS – Dozens of World Leaders joined yesterday’s Charlie Hebdo solidarity march to send a message to terrorists that intimidation of media will not be tolerated, unless they are the ones doing it.
More than 1.6 million French citizens joined the Paris march held Sunday, including many world leaders who disagreed with the silencing of journalists by anyone but themselves. Among them was Algerian Foreign Affairs Minister Ramtane Lamara, who commented on the well-attended march. “This turnout is very impressive,” remarked Lamara, “Good thing we’ve strictly outlawed such protests back home!”
Though many of today’s world leaders hail from countries where freedom of the press is restricted or severely undermined by either legislation or implied threats, they nonetheless expressed outrage at the violent attack last week on France’s satirical Charlie Hebdo magazine.
“I mean, on one hand it’s an inexcusable atrocity,” said Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu of Turkey, which imprisons more journalists than any other country. “But on the other hand, that’s kind of our racket. Watch it.”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was also quick to criticize religious extremists who attacked cartoonists in Paris last week. “They’re not even doing it right,” lamented Lavrov, adding “This June President Putin had five journalists detained indefinitely just for protesting too loudly.” He continued, “He wouldn’t have even broken a sweat, except that he was wrestling two grizzly bears at the time.”
“Amateurs,” Added Lavrov.
As the march continued, French President Francois Hollande spoke firmly about the importance of a free press, in spite of France’s anti-privacy laws that severely limit the investigation of political corruption. “I thank the many leaders, and underlings of leaders, who have come here today to stand united and say to those who would bully, silence, or harm our press – step the fuck off our turf.”
Reached for comment, Prime Minister Stephen Harper did not bother to comment.
