2015: Cartoonists Were Heroes. 2025: People Sharing Cartoons Are Terrorists.
In 2015, the streets of Paris echoed with the slogan “Je Suis Charlie.” World leaders stood at the forefront, marching for freedom of expression. Among them was Germany’s then-Chancellor, Angela Merkel. This march was presented as a powerful statement of the West’s unwavering commitment to free speech.
2025: The Dark Irony of Freedom
Yesterday, 51 people in Germany were raided at dawn and arrested for sharing a cartoon, making a comment, or simply liking a post!
And their “weapons”?
Not the machetes that have become a daily terror on European streets,
Not the grenades that explode almost every day in Sweden,
Not the automatic rifles that were recently fired in Brussels.
Instead, when police proudly displayed the “evidence bags” to the media, what did they reveal? A smartphone, a laptop, and a tablet.
So now, under the name of “free speech,” leaders who once marched against terrorism are equating thoughts with acts of terror!
“Our weapon is our pen!” they once said. But today, the pen itself is seen as a weapon.
France, once praised as the bastion of free speech, is now arresting people for sharing cartoons.
The Fake Fairy Tale of Freedom
The Je Suis Charlie march was nothing more than a carefully crafted public relations campaign for Western leaders to portray themselves as defenders of free speech. But was freedom ever truly universal? Or was it only granted when it served a particular ideology?
Yesterday, cartoonists were celebrated.
Today, people sharing cartoons are criminals.
Authoritarian regimes silencing opposition were condemned.
But in Europe, those with differing opinions are now criminalized.
The Final Stage: The Crime of Saying the “Wrong Thing”
Every day, the number of people arrested in Europe’s major cities in the name of “free speech” is rising. And what’s their crime? “Saying the wrong thing” or “supporting the wrong ideology.”
Sharing a cartoon? A crime.
Speaking against censorship? A crime.
Holding a viewpoint that challenges the mainstream? A crime.
So, how did we end up here?
In 2015, politicians who proudly claimed to defend free speech are now the ones enacting laws to restrict that very same freedom. This blatant contradiction has not gone unnoticed.
The Future of Free Speech
Freedom of expression is a cornerstone of democracy. But as we’ve seen, its limits and applications can be reshaped over time. In Germany, like in much of Europe, social and political shifts—along with security concerns—are being used as justifications to redefine and restrict what was once considered a fundamental right.
But the truth is clear:
Freedom was never meant to be a universal right!
Freedom was always a tool—granted only when it benefited the ruling ideology.
So, the real question is: Are we still free, or have we only been made to believe we are?
Real Courage: Defending Freedom or Not Feeling Fear?
When I share my ideas, people tell me, “You’re so brave.” Because by exposing contradictions, I take a risk. But if speaking the truth has become a “risk,” then don’t talk to me about freedom!
What makes us believe we are “free”?
The ability to make choices?
The fact that we can post a tweet?
Or just the illusion of speech, as long as we stay within certain limits?
Real freedom begins where you are not afraid to speak your mind. But today, fear lingers everywhere like a shadow.
And people like me—those who expose truths, highlight contradictions, and encourage critical thinking—are seen as THE REAL DANGER of today! Because those in power fear awakened minds more than weapons.
This is why:
Someone who shares a meme is labeled a “terrorist.”
But someone waving a machete in the streets is dismissed as merely a “troubled individual.”
Because that individual does not threaten the system!
But people like me—who question, debate, and speak out?
We are a threat to the system!
The Future of Free Speech: Where Are We Headed?
In 2015, world leaders stood as defenders of free speech.
Yet today, the same figures support policies that restrict that very freedom, drawing accusations of double standards.
Those who were once hailed as unwavering champions of free expression have now become the very authorities who suppress it.
Free speech is a cornerstone of democracy. However, its limits and enforcement have shifted over time.
As seen in Germany, social dynamics and security concerns can reshape how free speech is interpreted and applied.
This is why protecting free speech and clearly defining its boundaries is crucial for sustaining democratic values.
Because the truth is:
FREEDOM HAS NEVER BEEN AN UNIVERSAL RIGHT.
FREEDOM HAS ALWAYS BEEN A TOOL—ENCOURAGED ONLY WHEN IT SERVES A SPECIFIC IDEOLOGY.
Victoria Toumit