Georgia joins global solidarity campaign 'I Am Charlie'

Members of the Georgian public and local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have joined the global solidarity campaign Je Suis Charlie (I Am Charlie) in support of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, which was attacked by Islam terrorists on January 7. The attack led to the death of 12 people, including two police officers.

Supporters gathered outside the French Institute in Tbilisi yesterday carrying flowers in a show of support towards France and its people. The group expressed sadness following the tragic attack and condemned violence directed against the freedom of speech. In addition, members of the group lighted candles as a sign of remembrance of the 12 people killed in the deadly attack. 

The French Ambassador to Georgia also joined the solidarity campaign and thanked everyone for their support.

"I want to thank the Georgian people and the Georgian government for the support they have expressed. You know that today France is mourning. This is very hard for us and I am happy to see that Georgians are friends of France. France is a country of long-time democracy and we always managed to give a decent answer. I would like to say that democracy will always win thanks to the support that you have showed,” he said.

Members of Parliament from the Georgian Dream Coalition Tinatin Khidasheli and Tamar Kordzaia also participated in the solidarity campaign.

On Wednesday gunmen stormed into the Paris office of Charlie Hebdo and shot dead 12 people and injured 10 others in an Islamist terrorist attack. Four of the magazine's well-known cartoonists, including its editor and two police officers were among those killed.

French police are continuing their search for two suspects, brothers Cherif Kouachi and Said Kouachi.

Witnesses said they heard the gunmen shouting "We have avenged the Prophet Muhammad" and "God is Great" in Arabic ("Allahu Akbar"). 

The satirical magazine has caused controversy in the past with its irreverent take on news and current affairs. The magazine's office was attacked in November 2011 - a day after it published a caricature of the Prophet Muhammad. The latest tweet on Charlie Hebdo's Twitter account was a cartoon of the Islamic State (ISIS) militant group leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.