France: Attack on journalists

Emmanuel Pierrat and Jean Ralston Saul, PEN Club Français, at scene of Paris attack.

We are shocked and saddened by the attack on 25 September in Paris, near the former offices of the magazine Charlie Hebdo, which injured two staff at TV production company, Premieres Lignes.

This attack came a few weeks after the beginning of the trial of 14 people accused of helping to carry out an attack on Charlie Hebdo in 2015, in which a dozen people were killed.

Emmanuel Pierrat, PEN Club Français President said: “A cowardly attack has struck two journalists near the former premises of Charlie Hebdo. Freedom of expression has once again been targeted by terrorism.

"At a time when an important trial is underway to determine the responsibility of those involved in the attack against Charlie Hebdo and the Hyper Cacher supermarket, PEN Club Français wishes to reiterate its determination against terrorism.

"We affirm our solidarity with the victims and their families, and reaffirm our position on one of the main reasons for our existence: the defence of freedom of expression."

In January 2020, on the fifth anniversary of the attack on Charlie Hebdo, PEN International’s Writers for Peace Committee, issued this statement which we stand by today, calling for education, the promotion of human rights and a defence of freedom of expression.