Socialist Workers Party statement on Paris killings

Racists and right wingers are trying to use Wednesday’s horrific killings in Paris to divide working people, justify imperialist intervention and whip up Islamophobia.

Almost everyone will recognise that the attacks are wrong and completely unacceptable. We must not let them be exploited to generate racism, justify more wars, or to give a boost to the far right.

The attacks came as Islamophobes, racists and fascists are on the offensive across Europe.

In France the Nazi National Front seeks to win power on the basis of racist and Islamophobic scapegoating. In Germany the Pegida movement has taken to the streets in large numbers against Muslims and immigrants.

And in Britain politicians—and Ukip in particular—seek to profit from racism.

The media present Charlie Hebdo as simply a “satirical magazine”. But it is not the French equivalent of Private Eye as some commentators have suggested. It may have been once, but it has become a specialist in presenting provocative and racist attacks on Islam. That does not justify the killings, but it is essential background.

Nor should we forget that year after year imperialism has launched wars, assassinations, drone attacks and torture across the Middle East and elsewhere. Such outrages create deep hatred.

We should not be fooled into backing a war against Muslims masquerading as a fight for free speech.

Let’s unite against racism and Islamophobia.