Iranian opposition leader Maryam Rajavi strongly condemns terrorist attack in Paris

PARIS, Jan. 7, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The Iranian opposition leader, Mrs. Maryam Rajavi strongly condemned the ruthless terrorist attack on the office of the French magazine Charlie Hebdo (Charlie Weekly) in Paris and the killing and injuring of a number of its staff and reporters.

The President of the National Council of Resistance of Iran emphasized that "attacks on innocent civilians, especially journalists, under whatever pretext or excuse, are terrorist crimes and blatantly contradict the teachings of Islam, which in no way condone such atrocities."

According to news reports, hooded gunmen stormed the office of the weekly satirical magazine on Wednesday morning, shooting dead at least 12 people, including two police officers.  A number of others were also wounded.

Rajavi, who is based in Paris, offered her condolences to the bereaved families of the victims of this tragedy and to the people and the Government of France.

In this difficult moment, Mrs. Rajavi emphasized, the Iranian people and their Resistance stand with the people of France and the aggrieved families of the victims of this heinous crime.

The incident was the worst militant attack on French soil in decades. An emergency services medic who was called to treat the injured described the scene as "a massacre."

French President Francois Hollande rushed to the scene of the attack, where he said, "An act of indescribable barbarity has just been committed today in Paris." In a prime-time TV address Hollande added, "Today the French Republic as a whole was the target." He declared a national day of mourning on Thursday. US President Barack Obama in Washington described the attack as cowardly and evil. Numerous European leaders also joined in condemning the attack.

Tens of thousands have already taken part in rallies across France in memory of the victims. Thousands took part in vigil at the Place de la Republique in Paris.

SOURCE Iran News Update