The pen is still mightier than any sword could be

The attacks in Paris last week, far from silencing debate or dissent, have in fact led to a greater than ever belief in freedom of speech among the public, writes Dan Buckley

Last Wednesday’s murderous attack at the Paris office of the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo was the work of those who believe that cartoons can be so obnoxious that they justified the slaughter of 17 people, 12 at the magazine itself.

It is clear from the carnage that the perpetrators hoped to silence those responsible for the cartoons that gave offence to millions of Muslims worldwide.