OSCE media freedom representative strongly condemns attack on participants at the event “Art, freedom of speech and blasphemy” in Copenhagen
VIENNA, 15 February 2015 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović strongly condemned yesterday’s attack in Copenhagen, where a gunman opened fire at a public event on art, freedom of speech and blasphemy. One man was left dead, and three police were injured.
Reports say that the gunman, who apparently also killed a person at a synagogue in Copenhagen, was shot dead by police.
“I am appalled to see a new attack on freedom of speech while the world is still mourning the victims of Charlie Hebdo,” Mijatović said. “This is yet another painful reminder of the urgency for religious and political leaders to step up to protect our core democratic values.
“More than ever, we need to encourage a pluralistic environment for speech and media. All of society must be involved in a broad discussion on tolerance and freedom of speech,” she said.
Swedish artist Lars Vilks was one of the speakers at the meeting. Vilks has received numerous death threats, among them from Al-Qaida, after he drew several cartoons depicting the prophet Muhammad in 2007. He has been living under police protection ever since.
According to reports, the police are investigating the shootings yesterday as a terror attack aimed at Vilks. France’s ambassador to Denmark, François Zimeray, also attended the meeting.
“We need to accept being shocked, disturbed or even offended by what is said, drawn or written no matter how provocative or critical,” Mijatović said. “While direct calls for violence must be met with the full rigor of the law, we have many tools to fight lesser forms of intolerant speech: We can argue against them, we can make fun of them, we can ignore them and we can also choose to tolerate them, but violence and killing those holding different opinions is unacceptable.”
The cartoon controversy started nearly 10 years ago when the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten published 12 cartoons mostly depicting Islam and Muhammad, drawing protests throughout the Muslim world.
On 7 January 2015, 12 people were killed, among them 10 staff members, in a terrorist attack on French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, viewed as a response to its continued publications of caricatures of Muhammad.
The public statement by the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media on the Paris attack is available at //www.osce.org/fom/133526.
The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. She provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more atwww.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom.