�Nous sommes Charlie� :: Mmegi Online

Freedom of expression and free press continues to unsettle political and religious figures and movements around the world. The recent massacre of journalists and cartoonists of a French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo by Islamic extremists is an example of what happens when religious fanatics are unsettled by these tenets of democracy. They resort to violence.

In 2014 alone around 61 journalists were killed around the world. According to Committee to Protect Journalists more journalists were killed in Syria – a war torn country. Hundreds of other Journalists are languishing in jails and captivity around the world. These criminals masquerading as religious movements also constantly harass journalists.

The rise of Islamic extremism around the world has not made it easy for journalists to do their work. The extremists’ disdain for freedom of expression and free press emanates from the fact that they (extremists) hate free society and open society, scrutiny and examination. The Charlie Hebdo massacre also show that these extremists also hate satire. The intolerance by the extremists has produced men and women who are capable of killing in the name of religion.

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