“We stand with the people of France” - Gorst

Tuesday 17 November 2015

A gesture of solidarity with the mourning people of Paris drew almost a thousand people to a vigil in the Royal Square last night.

The crowd was addressed by the Chief Minister, the head of the Island’s Muslim community and the French Consul – and sang the French National Anthem at the end of the short service.

With the States building lit up in the blue, white and red of the French national flag to mark the Island’s support for the French community still reeling from Friday’s terrorist attacks which killed 129 people, Islanders held candles and carried French flags to show their solidarity.

Dr Jamali Sarfraz, the head of Jersey’s Muslim community, said that there was nothing “Islamic” about the slaughter of innocent people – and condemned Friday night’s murders.

“Although we are a small community here in Jersey we stand side by side along with the wider Jersey community and we show our solidarity and support for the people of Paris, and our prayers and thoughts are with them,” he said.

“I condemn these horrific, tragic and abhorrent attacks.

“These terrorists – they call themselves ‘Islamic State’ or muslims, but there is nothing Islamic about their actions at all.”

Senator Gorst’s speech to the vigil focussed on the values that the terrorists in Paris had attacked – and said that those values were shared here in Jersey.

“We all go for a drink, we all go to a sports event, and we all go to a concert,” he said.

“And it was while undertaking these everyday activities that the people of Paris were gunned down by this depraved group of pitiless terrorists.

“Tonight’s vigil shows that we want to stand with the people of France. We want to show that we share a common humanity and that we will not be bullied or cowed by such contemptible acts.”