8 January 2015
For Immediate Release
The Zionist Federation of Australia condemns the brutal terrorist attack that took place in the offices of Charlie Hebdo in Paris. Our deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of the 12 victims whose lives were taken at the hands of terrorists who burst through the office doors on a savage, murderous rampage.
Once again, Islamist extremist ideology has motivated terror, this time in a flagrant attack on citizens and on fundamental principles of democratic society, freedom of expression and freedom of the press.
Islamist terror is one unfortunately familiar to Israel, where terror
attacks on civilians have been an all too frequent occurrence. As we saw last month in Sydney, this terror has no boundaries and represents a threat to western society and to the precepts of individual freedom and the value of human life we hold dear. Similarly, the response to terror needs to be united and global.
As in the Lindt store incident Sydney, one of the suspects of the Paris attack was known to police for his extreme views and actions. Associated Press reported in 2008 that Cherif Kouachi, one of the suspected terrorists, had been sentenced to three years in prison in Paris for helping to funnel prospective jihadi fighters from France to Iraq, a term of which he served 18 months.
Our thoughts go out to the people of France and in particular those injured and affected by the attack.
For more information contact:
Ginette Searle, Executive Director – 9272 5517
