Thank You, Charlie Hebdo

author: Kamal Fahmi — Founder Set My People Free, originally published 2015.

Thank you, Charlie Hebdo, for your stand for freedom of speech, for your courage, for your persistence, for your willingness to sacrifice.

When the media outlets shrank back because of fear and political correctness, you did not.

Your stand brought a breath of hope for freedom for the oppressed and the deprived from freedom of speech in the Middle East and the World — for over 1.3 billion Muslims who do not have freedom of speech, like Raif Badawi in Saudi Arabia and Asia Bibi in Pakistan.

You stood in solidarity with victims of freedom of speech, with Theo Van Gogh in Holland, Mohammed Qatta, Syrian teenager, Governor of Punjab Salman Taseer and many others who were murdered for blasphemy.

Your stand was a tipping point

In spite of all your pain and grief you worked hard to publish the next edition.

Your stand was a tipping point. A million thanks.

Long live freedom of speech. Without freedom of speech there is no freedom. Our condolence for your great loss.

It was not in vain.