“Je Suis Charlie!” – a phrase that has swept the French nation and beyond, thanks mostly to social networks. Meaning ‘I am Charlie,’ the hashtag #JeSuisCharlie has gone on to become the most used hashtag ever on Twitter.
It is a simple, yet powerful, cry of defiance from the French people which arose immediately after ten journalists and two police officers were killed during a gun attack on the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris on Wednesday.
In a world that tries to encourage forms of free speech and freedom of expression, it is hard to stomach the fact that so many innocent lives, including subsequent victims at the hands of the attackers this week, have been taken because of the opinions of a select group of creative people.
Even so, this isn’t the first time that the offices of Charlie Hebdo have been attacked. In 2011, they were petrol-bombed after naming the Prophet Muhammad as their “editor-in-chief” for their next issue.
Cartoonists across the world are uniting against the bloodshed and violence, with others rallying on the streets in support of the Je Suis Charlie movement in the UK, Canada, the US and elsewhere. Candles, banners and flowers have been laid for those who lost their lives whilst just going about their daily routines.
I fully support freedom of speech, even if the opinions expressed by others are the opposite of my own. It is just a shame that even though we live in the 21st century, we are still capable of acting like animals, hell-bent on causing brutal and irreversible damage on fellow human beings because of difference in opinions, beliefs and more.
By Adam Taylor It’s time to post your top artists to show how cool and different you are. Spotify Wrapped for 2025 has finally dropped. This stat-loaded list of listening habits gets everyone excited, revealing top artists, songs, podcasts, music genres, and hours listened – which can be a bit concerning… Spotify adds new features…
Featured image: Suzy Hazelwood aAh! Magazine’s Literature and Creative Student Editors are delighted to announce our first online call for submissions for the 2025/26 academic year. This series invites creative writing students and visual artists to respond to the theme ‘Hometown’, offering the opportunity to showcase their work online. Manchester is a hometown for thousands, and simply…
Featured image and photography: Beck McNally Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield – a name that many Mancunian music-lovers will know well, died on 20 November this year. No official cause of death has been released to the public. The renowned bassist of The Stone Roses, and later Primal Scream, was a hugely influential musician – particularly in…
Featured image: Manchester City CouncilBy Adam Taylor and Amy Corringham Winter is approaching, but don’t let the cold and dark days stop you getting out and about – aAh! has gathered a selection of events for all budgets for you and your friends to enjoy. Get into the festival spirit with a variety of activities…
Leave a reply