Speak up to pay real tribute to Charlie Hebdo journalists: UN

GENEVA: Describing the attack against French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo as an assault "on all of us", the UN office here today stressed on the importance of continuing to speak up to pay a real tribute to the slain journalists.

The United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) held a commemoration ceremony to pay homage to the victims of the attack that killed 12 people, including eight journalists.

The ceremony was attended by the acting director-general of the UNOG, Michael Moller, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, the permanent representative of France to the UNOG, Nicholas Niemtchinow, the president of Association of Correspondents Accredited to the United Nations (ACANU), Gabriela Sotomayer, journalists of UNOG and spokespersons of various UN agencies.

Moller termed the killings "an attack on all of us" and reaffirmed the importance of the freedom of expression and the freedom of the press.

Referring to the killing of two Tunisian journalists in Libya this morning, Moller stressed the importance of continuing to speak up which would be a real tribute to the slain journalists of Charlie Hebdo.

Al Hussein highlighted the need for a moment of calm and said that neither Islam nor multiculturalism in Europe is to be blamed for the attacks.

The honorary member of Cartooning for Peace and former UN chief Kofi Annan said in a message that no belief system, faith or ideology justifies this act of violence.

Sotomayer said that the press will not be intimidated and are more united than ever.