New York, NY, January 7, 2015 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today condemned the terror attack in Paris at the Charlie Hebdo newspaper office, and expressed horror and outrage at the brutal escalation in violent radical Islamist terrorism.
Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, issued the following statement:
We are outraged and horrified by this terror attack which was a dreadful reminder of the terror attacks at the Jewish school in Toulouse and the Jewish museum in Brussels. French authorities rightly declared this horrific attack to be against the French Republic, just as they have when radical Islamists have attacked French Jews and Jewish institutions.
Radical Islamist terrorists targeted a French symbol of press freedom. While we have criticized Charlie Hebdo’s insulting caricatures in the past, terrorism is never justified and freedom of the press must be protected. Newspapers must be free to publish controversial content, not without criticism, but without intimidation or violence.
The swift and unconditional condemnations by mainstream French Muslim leaders should be highlighted and should focus anger and blame where they belong – on the terrorists and their sympathizers, who oppose freedom of speech, freedom of press, and freedom of religion.
We extend condolences to the families of the victims and to the French people.