A heinous attack occurred in Paris, which left 12 people dead, including 4 cartoonists from the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and 2 police officers, and eight others wounded, many of them in critical condition.
This barbaric act sought to silence by fear. Instead, we are all reminded that the foundation of a world of peace and tolerance is one where anybody can express their thoughts and creativity freely. It is this freedom that France, together with the rest of the world, strives and will continue to protect.
Our thoughts are with the families and friends of the victims, as well as with all the journalists who fight for press freedom and with all those who uphold the universal right to freedom of expression.