Swiss media professionals mourn the loss of colleagues

The attack on the editorial office of the Paris satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, which claimed at least twelve lives on Wednesday (Werbewoche.ch reported), deeply shocks the cartoonists, caricaturists, journalists and journalists of the professional association Imprint. "We mourn and express our deepest condolences to the families of the victims. We strongly condemn the attack on freedom of the press and expression and call on the authorities to hold those responsible for the massacre and those behind it accountable without regard to other interests."

French Swiss cartoonist Burki: "An unimaginable drama".

The attack has also caused consternation for Swiss cartoonist Raymond Burki. "I am very sad," said the longtime West Swiss cartoonist. He described the attack as an "unimaginable drama." He was previously only aware of reports in the French media that several well-known cartoonists such as Cabu, Charb, Wolinksy and Tignous had died, Burki said when asked by the SDA news agency. Burki worked for the French-speaking Swiss newspaper 24 heures for 38 years. If those reports are accurate, he said, the world has lost "big feathers." To be killed because of a drawing, he said, was unbelievable. Earlier in the afternoon, the French judiciary confirmed that these four draftsmen had been killed.

Publisher President Lebrument: Rethinking editorial security

Publisher President Hanspeter Lebrument fears new challenges for the media. Such an act has great impact and consequences, it is "like a beacon," Lebrument told the news agency SDA. After this attack, he said, one cannot simply sit back. The president of the publishers sees new challenges ahead for the media. One must consider whether the security of the editorial offices is guaranteed, he said. In addition, it is becoming increasingly difficult for media professionals to describe the relationship between the native population and immigrants with a Muslim background.

Médias Suisses, the publishers' association in French-speaking Switzerland, expressed its consternation when asked by SDA. It was a "black day" for press freedom, said Secretary General Daniel Hammer. Those in charge of the caricature museum in Morges VD are also in shock. The museum wants to dedicate a tribute to the four killed cartoonists. It is a black day for free expression, said Wednesday curator Charlotte Contesse. Satirist Viktor Giacobbo was dismayed: "Many media requests - and unfortunately no. Even as a satirist, you can't express more than horror at the whole mess," he tweeted.

200 Swiss media professionals mourn in Bern

In the early hours of Wednesday evening, around 200 media representatives gathered on the Bundesplatz in Bern for a mourning rally. With their participation, they expressed their dismay about the attack. In the afternoon, various journalist organizations had spontaneously called for a silent funeral march in Bern. Rallies are also planned in Lausanne and Geneva. The media union Syndicom, the journalists' organization Impressum and the Syndikat Schweizer Medienschaffender put up a black emblem with the words "Je suis Charlie" on their websites on Wednesday afternoon.

Solidarity also in French-speaking Switzerland

In Geneva, about 500 people gathered in memory of the victims of the attack. They laid numerous candles at the mourning rally in front of the university building. In Lausanne, also about 500 people, including many journalists, commemorated the victims on the Place de la Riponne. The Vaud cantonal government was represented by Pierre-Yves Maillard (SP), Nuria Goritte (SP) and Béatrice Métraux (Greens). French-born State Councillor Métraux expressed her shock at the events: "I grew up with Charlie Hebdo and
the Canard Enchaîné," she told the SDA news agency. "We have come to express our solidarity with the victims and defend freedom of expression," added her counterpart Nuria Goritte. Signs with "Je suis Charlie" were also everywhere at the rallies in French-speaking Switzerland.

The associations also expressed their dismay at the attack in Paris. "Like numerous attacks before it, this tragedy will not prevent journalists from standing up for open and critical reporting in the future," the Syndicate of Swiss Media Professionals announced. Freedom of expression and freedom of the press must be defended because they are the foundation of a free society in which everyone has the right to express themselves, Syndicom said.(pd/SDA/hae)