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Friday, January 09, 2015

Statement by Society of Professional Journalists President Neuts on terrorist attack at French magazine

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According to an article in the New York Times, “Terrorists Strike Charlie Hebdo Newspaper in Paris, Leaving 12 Dead,” By DAN BILEFSKY and MAÏA de la BAUMEJAN. 7, 2015: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/08/world/europe/charlie-hebdo-paris-shooting.html?rref=world/europe

“PARIS — The police organized an enormous manhunt across the Paris region on Wednesday for three suspects they said were involved in a brazen and methodical midday slaughter at a satirical newspaper that had lampooned Islam.

“The terrorist attack by masked gunmen on the newspaper, Charlie Hebdo, left 12 people dead — including the top editor, prominent cartoonists and police officers — and was among the deadliest in postwar France. The killers escaped, traumatizing the city and sending shock waves through Europe and beyond.

Officials said late Wednesday that two of the suspects were brothers. They were identified as Said and Chérif Kouachi, 34 and 32. The third suspect is Hamyd Mourad, 18. News reports said the brothers, known to intelligence services, had been born in Paris, raising the prospect that homegrown Muslim extremists were responsible… http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/08/world/europe/charlie-hebdo-paris-shooting.html?rref=world/europe

Related: ‘Dangerous Moment’ for Europe, as Fear and Resentment Grow

By STEVEN ERLANGER and KATRIN BENNHOLDJAN. 7, 2015 http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/08/world/europe/paris-attack-reflects-a-dangerous-moment-for-europe.html?emc=edit_th_20150108&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=45685287

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Statement by SPJ President Neuts on terrorist attack at French magazine

1/7/2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Jan. 7. 2015 http://www.spj.org/news.asp?REF=1300

INDIANAPOLIS – The Society of Professional Journalists is angered by today’s attack on French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris. This is a barbaric, appalling attempt to stifle press freedom.

Extremists feel emboldened to attack and kill journalists anywhere in the world for lampooning religion or reporting on political and governmental activities. Such outrageous attempts to silence journalists will not be tolerated or successful.

Journalists around the world work every day to report truth, enlighten the public and encourage people to think about all sides of issues important to society. This type of attack on such a basic human right – freedom of speech – is heinous and unacceptable. We urge other journalists and media organizations to stand in solidarity against this outrageous attack on press freedoms.

The Committee to Protect Journalists, one of numerous organizations also condemning the attack, reports this is the worst attack on the media since the 2009 Maguindanao massacre in the Philippines. In 2014 alone, CPJ reports 61 journalists were killed worldwide, including 27 who were murdered.

Our thoughts are with the families and colleagues of the victims of today’s horrific events.

Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to a well-informed citizenry; works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists; and protects First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press. For more information about SPJ, please visit spj.org.

http://www.spj.org/news.asp?REF=1300

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