Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Paris attacks: Jewish leader accuses Twitter of 'collaborating with criminals' by allowing 'je suis Kouachi' tweets

The hashtag has been used thousands of times in the wake of Charlie Hebdo massacre

Tuesday 13 January 2015 17:13 GMT

Roger Cukierman, President of the CRIF (Representative Council of France's Jewish Associations) (AFP/Getty Images)

A Jewish leader in France has accused Twitter of “collaborating with criminals” for refusing to censor controversial messages posted in the aftermath of the Paris attacks.

While the #jesuisCharlie hashtag became one of the most used in the site’s history, #jesuisKouachi, using the name of the brothers who carried out the Charlie Hebdo massacre, was tweeted thousands of times.

The president of the Representative Council of French Jewish Associations, Roger Cukierman, argued that Twitter should have censored the tweets as young people are now “educated” through social networks.

“Yesterday there were 21,000 tweets taking the hashtag 'I am Kouachi', Kouachi are the murderers of the newspaper people,” he told Sky News.

Said and Cherif Kouachi, aged 34 and 32 (PA)

“How can we accept that Twitter is accepting such messages, they are collaborating with criminals. It should be subject to penal law.”

He added: “Why can't we say you (social networks) are subject to the British or the French law if you are recommending murdering people ... why should we accept it?”

The number of #jesuisCharlie tweets was far higher, seeing the hashtag used 3.4 million times in an overwhelming show of solidarity for the victims in the 24-hour period after Wednesday’s shootings.

A woman holds a poster reading 'Je suis Charlie' (I am Charlie) during a vigil in Trafalgar Square in London for victims of the terrorist attack at Charlie Hebdo in Paris

While some of the #jesuisKouachi posts appeared to express admiration for the Kouachi brothers and condoned their massacre, a far greater number seemed to be discussing the trend or expressing outrage at its existence.

Several people called for those using the hashtag to be arrested or even tracked down and killed by a drone strike.

Others used it as an example of freedom of speech, demonstrating that people’s instinct to censor something held to be offensive contradicted the liberal values professed in the wake of the terror attacks.

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Show all 39

1/39In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Pencils, representing the freedom of expression, placed in tribute in Nantes

Reuters

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

France's Jason Lamy Chappuis soars through the air over a message that reads "Je suis Charlie"

Getty

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Solidarity in Nice

AP

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Turkish citizens organised a vigil in front of the French consulate in Istanbul

AFP

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Graffiti decorates a London wall in solidarity with the victims of the attack in Paris

AFP

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

A tribute of flowers and candles outside the French Embassy in Prague, Czech Republic

AP

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Messages of sympathy near the Charlie Hebdo office in Paris

AFP

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Workers install a poster reading 'Je suis Charlie' (I am Charlie) on the Palais des Festivals facade in Cannes

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

A woman looks at floral tributes left outside the Charlie Hebdo magazine offices in Paris

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

A woman places flowers near the offices of French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Journalists of international press agency Agence France-Presse (AFP) hold signs reading "Je suis Charlie" (I am Charlie) at their headquarters in Paris as they observe a minute of silence for the victims of an attack by armed gunmen on the offices of French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris which left at least 12 dead and many others injured

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Pens and pencils are placed in the form of a peace sign over the names of late French cartoonists Cabu, Tignous, Wolinski and late Charlie Hebdo editor Charb on the Place de la Republique (Republic Square) in Paris

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Australia mourns victims of the Paris massacre at Federation Square in Melbourne

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Indian artist Sudarsan Pattnaik is pictured with his sand sculpture, in tribute of those who lost their lives in the attack by gunmen on French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo in Paris that killed 12 people, at Golden Sea Beach in Puri, some 65 kilometers from Bhubaneswar

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

A man holds a placard that reads "I am Charlie" as members of the European Parliament and citizens gather during a minute of silence for victims of the shooting at the Paris offices of weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo, in front of the EU Parliament in Brussels

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

A painting of the 'Marianne', the national symbol of the French Republic is placed between candles to commemorate the victims killed in an attack at the Paris offices of the weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo, in front of the French Embassy in Berlin

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Pencils and flowers of condolance are placed at the French embassy at Pariser Platz in Berlin

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Mourners hold signs depicting victim's eyes during a rally in support of Charlie Hebdo, a French satirical weekly newspaper that fell victim to an terrorist attack, at Union Square in New York

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

People hold up placards reading 'I am Charlie' during a gathering in Nice

Getty Images

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

A man lights candles set near the portrait of three of the four cartoonists killed, in Paris

Getty Images

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

A man holds the French national flag tied a black ribbon as he and others gather in Lyon to pay their respects

Getty Images

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Parisians gather to pay respect for the victims of a terror attack against 'Charlie Hebdo'

Getty Images

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

People gather in front of the 'Club de la presse' in Montpellier, to show their solidarity for the victims of the attack by unknown gunmen on the offices of the satirical weekly, 'Charlie Hebdo'

Getty Images

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

A drawing depicting cartoonist Jean Cabut, left, Charlie Hebdo editor Stephane Charbonnier, center, and cartoonist Georges Wolinski, is placed outside the French Embassy in Berlin, Germany. The message reads 'Victims of their success, R.I.P.'

AP

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

A woman lays a candle during a gathering at the Place de la Republique in Paris

Getty Images

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

People take part in a vigil in Trafalgar Square, London, following the deadly terror attack on French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris

PA

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

People light candles forming the name Charlie during a gathering in Strasbourg, eastern France

Getty Images

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

People stand stand in Marseille, southern France, next to a portrait of French cartoonist Georges Wolinksi, killed during an attack by unknown gunmen on the offices of the satirical weekly, 'Charlie Hebdo'

Getty Images

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

People hold placards reading in French 'I am Charlie' during a gathering at the Place de la Republique in Paris

Getty Images

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

A man holds a placard reading 'With all our heart with Charlie Hebdo, Freedom of the press: Our freedom' during a gathering in Marseille, southern France

Getty Images

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

The French and European union flags fly at half-mast at the French Embassy in Washington, DC

Getty Images

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

People gather at the Place Royale in Nantes to show their solidarity for the victims of the attack in Paris

Getty Images

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Flowers, candles and a sign reading 'I am Charlie' are placed against a wall during a demonstration in Paris

AP

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Journalism students hold a banner reading in French: 'Journalism students : Solidarity' as they raise pens during a gathering at the Place de la Republique in Paris

Getty Images

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

People gather for a rally in solidarity with the killed Charlie Hebdo employees, in Geneva, Switzerland

EPA

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

A man holds a placard reading: 'Freedom of the press is priceless, fundamentalism, of any kind, will not pass' as others hold up placards reading in French, 'I am Charlie' during a gathering at the Place de la Republique in Paris

Getty Images

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Journalists raise their press cards as others hold up pens during a gathering at the Place de la Republique, following the terrorist attack on the offices of the satirical weekly, 'Charlie Hebdo'

Getty Images

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

People hold candles at a rally in support of the victims of Wednesday's terrorist attack, at the Place de la Republique in Paris

Getty Images

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

People gather in front of the city hall of Rennes, western France, following the attack in Paris

Getty Images

A tweet sent from an official French police account asked people to report Twitter users who were endorsing the Charlie Hebdo shooting, the BBC reported, with at least one man due to appear in court over his comments after about 4,000 messages were flagged.

A selection of the #jesuiskouachi tweets:

A spokesperson for Twitter said: "All reported content is reviewed against our rules, which prohibit targeted harassment and direct, specific threats of violence against others."

The social network does not ban words or hashtags on its platform and discloses information on any data handed over to authorities in its transparency reports.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies