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People all over the world gather in solidarity and prayer. The slogan "Je suis Charlie" is widely used to express solidarity with the victims and the human rights (Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights). Photo: Brigitte Djajasasmita

People all over the world gather in solidarity and prayer. The slogan "Je suis Charlie" is widely used to express solidarity with the victims and the human rights (Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights). Photo: Brigitte Djajasasmita

Reacting to news of the deaths of twelve persons in an armed attack on the Paris offices of Charlie Hebdo, acting general secretary of the World Council of Churches Georges Lemopoulos said:

"The fatal attack that has taken place today in Paris against the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo is an attack on human life, human dignity  and the human rights of all. The World Council of Churches utterly rejects and condemns any religious justification advanced for it. Together with all people of true faith and good will, we pray for the victims and their families, for the perpetrators to be brought to justice, for the extremist ideology that inspired this attack to be extinguished, and that justified outrage may not lead to reprisals against Muslims or fuel anti-Islamic sentiment."

Words of introduction at a moment of silence and prayer observed at the Ecumenical Centre, Geneva

WCC member churches in France

Statement by the French Protestant Federation (in French)

Statement by the Assembly of Orthodox Bishops of France (in French)

Statement by the Association of Evangelical Mennonite Churches of France (in French)

Statement by the French Council for the Muslim Faith (in French)

Conference of European Churches statement

WACC Europe statement