
Albanian PM Edi Rama paying tribute at Chalie Hebdo accompanied by Albanian religious community leaders. ©Endri Fuga
Just when you thought you’d seen the humble pencil repurposed in every way possible as a symbol of free speech and unity in the wake of the Charlie Hebdo attacks, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama arrives with his own rather subtle Tricolour pocket square.
The politician, himself an artist and writer, turned up at the solidarity march in Paris with blue, white and red pencils tucked into his top pocket, signifying the colours of the French flag. More than three million people attended the rally, including 40 world leaders who linked arms at the front of the torrent of supporters.
“Paris is the capital of the world today,” French leader Francois Hollande commented on the march, which saw the highest turnout in the country’s history.
Mirenjohje te kater perfaqesuesve te klerit shqiptar qe sot mahniten Parisin dhe e ngriten Shqiperine ne piedestal! pic.twitter.com/cbv6YpdY8Y
— Edi Rama (@ediramaal) January 11, 2015
It was organised in the hope of showing that terrorism will not be tolerated and that freedom cannot be crushed, after the attacks at Charlie Hebdo magazine and a kosher supermarket which took place last week.