Letter to the Editorial Team at Charlie Hebdo

January 7, 2015

To the Editorial Team of Charlie Hebdo

Paris

On behalf of the over 400,000 international membership of the Simon Wiesenthal Centre, I write to express our horror at today's atrocity, our sympathy to the families of its victims and prayers for the wounded.

In 2005, we shared the same courtroom with Charlie Hebdo as your then editor, Philippe Val, and we were charged with defamation by a Franco-Palestinian organization.

Today is a black day for freedom of expression, tolerance and respect in France as the very values of the Republic are under attack.

Jihadi fanaticism and terrorism are the same reality for its victims, whether in France, Israel or beyond.

The authorities must draw the lessons of today and crack down on these threats with all measures available.

In sadness and sympathy,

Richard Odier
President
Centre Simon Wiesenthal

Dr. Shimon Samuels
France Director for International Relations
Centre Simon Wiesenthal



cc:
Rabbi Marvin Hier, Dean and Founder, Simon Wiesenthal Center
Rabbi Abraham Cooper, Associate Dean, Simon Wiesenthal Center