Council of Europe pays homage to Charlie Hebdo victims
Xinhua, January 10, 2015 Adjust font size:
"Let us bow our heads and remember those who were killed and paid with their lives for the freedom of expression," said Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjorn Jagland on Friday before leading a minute of silence for the victims of the Charlie Hebdo killings.
To pay homage, the Council of Europe organized a commemorative ceremony that was attended by a gathering of over 300 people. The staff and judges of the European Court of Human Rights, the members of permanent representations, as well as representatives of local and regional authorities were invited to participate.
The crowd held up signs with the phrase "Je suis Charlie" ("I am Charlie") while the Flag of Europe flew at half mast in front of the Council's headquarters at the Palais d'Europe.
"This is an attack, a blatant attack, on freedom of expression," the Secretary General told Xinhua after the ceremony. "We have to stand up against it."
Describing the Council's position on the attacks, the Secretary General said: "We are the house where we protect the Convention of Human Rights in Europe and there are two important articles being harmed right now."
Besides the freedom of expression, there is the right to life, he explained. "No one has the right to take anybody else's life." Endit