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TERRORISM

1,000 at Berlin rally for Charlie Hebdo victims

More than 1,000 people made it to a spontaneous rally outside the French Embassy in Berlin on Wednesday night to show support for their home country and its free press following the terror attack on satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo.

Published: 8 January 2015 10:22 CET
1,000 at Berlin rally for Charlie Hebdo victims
French people hold candles at the Berlin demonstration in solidarity with Charlie Hebdo. Photo: DPA

The vast majority were French, many former residents of Paris or with relatives in the French capital.

The rally, at Pariser Platz, site of the Brandenburg Gate, was called at the last-minute for 6pm.

Many carried signs bearing the legend “Je suis Charlie” [I am Charlie], which has become the slogan of those expressing their support.

While there were brief outbreaks of chanting “Long live freedom of the press” and “long live caricature”, the majority of the evening passed off quietly as demonstrators held candles and talked amongst themselves.

The Local was at the scene, and spoke with Joël Espi, a Swiss freelance journalist who organized the demonstration.

“I know a cartoonist who's worked at Charlie Hebdo and I've worked for satirical newspapers”, he said, saying that he felt moved by the attack to organize a show of solidarity and got in touch with other journalists.

The Facebook event Espi created to manage the demonstration quickly snowballed to attract hundreds of responses.

He added that he was glad that French President Francois Hollande had reacted so quickly by attending the scene of the attack, and that he and other leaders had insisted immediately that the freedom of the press should not be infringed.

Embassy workers could be seen at the windows of the building watching the demonstration and taking photos on their phone, while Ambassador Philippe Etienne joined the crowd and talked with participants.

Berlin politicians, including mayor Michael Müller, expressed their sympathy with France throughout the day, while the President of the city assembly Ralf Wieland joined the crowd on the square to show his support.

SEE ALSO: Merkel condemns 'despicable' Paris attack

PARIS

Fluffy nuisance: Outcry as Paris sends Invalides rabbits into exile

Efforts to relocate wild rabbits that are a common sight on the lawns of the historic Invalides memorial complex have provoked criticism from animal rights groups.

Published: 14 February 2024 13:01 CET
Fluffy nuisance: Outcry as Paris sends Invalides rabbits into exile

Tourists and Parisians have long been accustomed to the sight of wild rabbits frolicking around the lawns of Les Invalides, one of the French capital’s great landmarks.

But efforts are underway to relocate the fluffy animals, accused of damaging the gardens and drains around the giant edifice that houses Napoleon’s tomb, authorities said.

Police said that several dozen bunnies had been captured since late January and relocated to the private estate of Breau in the Seine-et-Marne region outside Paris, a move that has prompted an outcry from animal rights activists.

“Two operations have taken place since 25 January,” the police prefecture told AFP.

“Twenty-four healthy rabbits were captured on each occasion and released after vaccination” in Seine-et-Marne, the prefecture said.

Six more operations are scheduled to take place in the coming weeks.

Around 300 wild rabbits live around Les Invalides, according to estimates.

“The overpopulation on the site is leading to deteriorating living conditions and health risks,” the prefecture said.

Authorities estimate the cost of restoring the site, which has been damaged by the proliferation of underground galleries and the deterioration of gardens, pipes and flora, at €366,000.

Animal rights groups denounced the operation.

The Paris Animaux Zoopolis group said the rabbits were being subjected to “intense stress” or could be killed “under the guise of relocation”.

“A number of rabbits will die during capture and potentially during transport,” said the group, accusing authorities of being “opaque” about their methods.

The animal rights group also noted that Breau was home to the headquarters of the Seine-et-Marne hunting federation.

The police prefecture insisted that the animals would not be hunted.

In 2021, authorities classified the rabbits living in Paris as a nuisance but the order was reversed following an outcry from animal groups who have been pushing for a peaceful cohabitation with the animals.

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