RWB appalled by Charlie speculators

The way people have been buying up copies of today’s “survivors” issue of Charlie Hebdo in order to resell them at a much higher price is appalling and an insult to the memory of the Charlie Hebdo journalists who were killed last week, Reporters Without Borders said.

As a result of the speculative buying, the 700,000 copies put on sale in France today sold out without hours. Pending the delivery of additional copies to newsstands, print copies are being resold on online bidding websites, in some cases for exorbitant prices. Pirated digital copies are also being sold. Bon Coin and Price Minister have decided to ban this, but the US site eBay is tolerating it. “It is distressing after such a tragedy to see some people trying to make a profit at Charlie Hebdo’s expense,” Reporters Without Borders secretary-general Christophe Deloire said. “We appeal to the ‘Charlie profiteers’ to show some decency and respect for those who lost their lives to defend freedom of information and expression. This parallel trade is appalling. Everything must be done to avoid this ‘survivors’ issue being the object of speculation, so that it is sold at the right price, and no more, and can be ready by everyone.”
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Updated on 20.01.2016