THE SNP’s Christian Allard has called on Fiona Hyslop to create a “National Cartoonists’ Day for Scotland” as he stepped up his campaign yesterday to commemorate the 12 people who were killed in the Charlie Hebdo massacre in Paris.
French-born Allard, who is an MSP for the North East, initially raised the idea of an international day in celebration of cartoonists on the first anniversary of the Charlie Hebdo attack in January during a debate in the Scottish Parliament.
He has now written to the Culture Secretary calling for a National Cartoonists’ Day for Scotland – and hopes an International Cartoonists’ Day can be raised at the United Nations.
He wrote: “This day would serve to support the plight of free speech and opposition to the brutal killings and not allow the terrorist messages to resonate.”
Allard told The National: “The tragic attack on Charlie Hebdo was not just an attack on one magazine. It was an attack on the principle of free speech. Charlie Hebdo has responded to this attack by continuing to do what it did before – and in that is a lesson for all of us.
“Rather than being defined as an anniversary of terrorism, January 7 should be a day where we celebrate the role that cartoonists play in mocking, satirising and challenging.
“That would be a fitting tribute to those who lost their lives in the Charlie Hebdo attacks.”
Twelve people were shot dead when the Paris headquarters of the satirical magazine came under attack on January 7 last year. Among those murdered were staff cartoonists Charb, Cabu, Honoré, Tignous and Wolinski, economist Bernard Maris and editors Elsa Cayat and Mustapha Ourrad. Two police officers were also shot dead and 11 people were wounded.
The two gunmen were identified as Saïd Kouachi and Chérif Kouachi.
A Scottish Government spokesman said:
“While no mechanism exists to formally designate ‘national days’ we have received Mr Allard’s request and are considering what may be possible to support his aim,” he said.
“The assault on the Charlie Hebdo offices last year was an appalling act of terrorism and an attack on the freedom of expression, a centrepiece of the European Convention of Human Rights.
“Caricature and satire highlight injustice and make the case for change through challenge and ridicule. In a modern democratic Scotland there is ample room for this sort of legitimate commentary. Democracies thrive in the face of challenge through freedom of expression.”
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