UN Human
Rights Chief deplores Paris attack
GENEVA (7
January 2015) – Statement by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid
Ra’ad Al Hussein on the killings by gunmen at the offices of the Charlie Hebdo
magazine in Paris.
“I utterly
condemn the appalling and ruthless attack on media workers and police officers
in Paris earlier today, and urge anyone who has information that could help to
locate the individuals who planned or carried out this hideous crime to
immediately bring it to the attention of the French authorities, before other
lives are lost. I offer my heartfelt condolences to the people of France,
especially the families, friends and colleagues of those who were shot in cold
blood in their office, and of those lying critically injured in hospital.”
“Freedom of
expression and opinion are a cornerstone for any democratic society. Those
trying to divide communities on grounds of religion, ethnicity or any other
reason must not be allowed to succeed. The rule of law must unite us in
standing firm against such terrorist acts. The rule of law also requires that
we seek to arrest and punish those directly responsible for carrying out,
planning or acting as accomplices to specific crimes and do not attach blame to
any wider group.”
“If this
attack is allowed to feed discrimination and prejudice, it will be playing
straight into the hands of extremists whose clear aim is to divide religions
and societies. With xenophobia and anti-migrant sentiments already on the rise
in Europe, I am very concerned that this awful, calculated act will be exploited
by extremists of all sorts.”
ENDS
For more
information and media requests, please contact Rupert Colville (+41 22 917 9767
/rcolville@ohchr.org) or Liz Throssell (+41 22 917 9466/ ethrossell@ohchr.org)
UN Human
Rights, follow us on social media:
Twitter:
http://twitter.com/UNrightswire
YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/UNOHCHR
Storify:
http://storify.com/UNrightswire
Nema komentara:
Objavi komentar