PARIS (EJP)--- CRIF, the umbrella group of French secular Jewish organisations, and the Jewish student union will participate on Wednesday in a gathering in memory of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaia who was murdered last Saturday.

Politkovskaia was known for her field reporting of the war in Chechnya and for criticising methods used by the Russian army against Chechen rebels.

She was shot in her apartment building’s elevator raising sever criticism over the lack of freedom of speech in Russia.

Inquiry demanded

On Wednesday, demonstrators led by philosopher Andre Glucksman and Marie Mendras will demand an international and independent investigation over the assassination.

CRIF backed these demands. “It’s important that the Jewish community mobilises for human rights because these horrible murders are inconceivable in a civilised society and they reveal a degenerated society,” said David Fuchs, who will represent CRIF at the protest.

“It is essential to demand that these violent acts stop. Jews must mobilise, even for one victim, because what happens to one person in that country could eventually have an effect on all of us. We must defend individuals whose basic rights are attacked.”

“However, we shouldn’t delude ourselves and expect immediate changes,” Fuchs told EJP. “The situation will not change radically. We can hope to light a sparkle and that others would do the same. The sparkles would then unite and form a light.”

“One thing is certain – the murderers didn’t kill Anna Politkovskaia’s ideas. Those who knew nothing of her battle are now looking into that reality she has denounced. The murderers missed their goal.”