Public Lecture: I Am Charlie, Je suis CHARLIE

A public lecture and discussion was the academic reflection of the dramatic events happened in France a few days ago. Guest-lecturers were H. E. Xavier Lapeyere de Cabanes, Ambassador of France to Bulgaria and Petar Kurumbashev, politician and producer of students TV programme Ku-KU. Both lecturers defended opinions on the topic I Am Charlie, Je suis CHARLIE. The event initiated by the University Marketing Center was attended by lecturers, students and journalists.

H. E. Xavier Lapeyere de Cabanes (on the left) and Petar Kurumbashev

The lack of sense of humour and tolerance is equal to the lack of life itself, formulated in the beginning of the meeting its moderator Chief Assist. Dr. Nikolay Vankov. He presented both lecturers and the activity of the University Marketing Center. The Center was also presented by its Director Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pencho Ivanov, Head of the Marketing and Strategic Planning Department. 

In the Ceremonial Hall

The tragedy in France led lots of people to extreme and impulsive reactions under the pressure of “the malice of the day”, outlined Petar Kurumbashev. He commented the terroristic act in Paris on the ground of what happened in the world, spoke about the events in Hamburg and Istanbul, the refugee wave, reasons of existence of terroristic organizations such as Islamic State and cited passages from the Koran. The lecturer asked some rhetoric questions: ‘’Didn`t we go too far with the speech of hate?” and “Is there really a freedom of speech?”. He outlined that the freedom of speech as well as the democracy are for people capable to use them. Paris seems far away but in fact it isn`t like that, emphasized on the global meaning of the events for Europe and for the world Petar Kurumbashev.

From the left to the right: Petar Kurumbashev, Chief Assist. Dr. Nikolay Vankov, H. E. Xavier Lapeyere de Cabanes, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pencho Ivanov

H. E. Xavier Lapeyere de Cabanes formulated his answer to the topic Je suis CHARLIE by the Declaration of Human Rights (1789) and its principles. He reminded Art.1: “People are born and remain free and equal in their rights” and Art.11 determining the freedom of speech as one of the most precious human rights. The freedom to exchange thoughts is boundless and in one liberal democratic society the censorship is impossible, outlined the Ambassador. “The term “blasphemy” is incompatible with the liberal democracy. It is not included in the Penal Codes of Bulgaria and France therefore it could not be convicted”, pointed out the lecturer. 

The French Ambassador

The ideology of humour killers is incompatible with democracy, declared also the Ambassador and appealed to be supported the right of Charlie Hebdo to publish its cartoons as well as the right of its readers to continue reading it.

The attendees in the public lecture took part in the discussion asking questions and sharing their opinions.