Citizens of Paris and all across the world continue to rally in support of the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo following the terrorist actions performed at their editorial office last week.

In the aftermath, media outlets — print media in particular — have been forced to consider the fact that the publication of potentially inflammatory pieces, whether intentional or not, comes with an inherent risk.

Even in societies that stand as bastions of liberty and progress, like western Europe, we are not free from the archaic notion that if someone says something that you do not like, you are granted license to do that person harm.

There are wars fought for land and there are wars fought for resources, but the wars that are fought over ideas are most dangerous. When passion is placed incorrectly, nothing is more dangerous than deeply held ideal.

Using violence as a means to suppress the voice of your enemy is among the most basic forms of argument. The physical escalation of an ideological conflict is indicative of a debater who lacks the knowledge, tact and conscience to defend their position logically or in a productive fashion.

These individuals belong to a different time, a time that has long passed. They, as well as their ideals, are backed into a corner and their only reactionary instinct is to fight against the ever-changing, ever-progressing, societies in which they find themselves.

Even in areas where extremists hold authority, it is often authority through fear. Such sentiment will never dominate socially progressive regions of the world. For that reason, those who committed this atrocity, a number of them having already been captured or killed, will forever be running. No place that values liberty and expression will tolerate their presence.

Joern Mikkelsen, the editor of the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten, which was the target of similar attacks after publishing images of the Prophet Muhammad in 2005, has stated in an interview with The Straits Times that his paper will not publish any Charlie Hebdo images — Charlie Hebdo published the Jyllands-Posten images in 2006 as a representation of their support and unity.

“The truth is that for us, it would be completely irresponsible to print old or new Prophet drawings right now,” Mikkelsen said.

Mikkelsen did not say that he would never print any such images, but that he maintains the right as an editor to “print all types of drawings again at some point, just not right now.”

Mikkelsen is justified in his decision, as Jylland-Posten has been targeted several times, though they have not been successfully attacked since the incident in 2005.

This attack was not the first of its kind and, tragically, it will not be the last. The sentiment that gives rise to these tragedies persists in even the most unexpected places. However, this attack will follow in the traditions of its predecessors in another way — it will not achieve its long-term goal.

Print outlets and all other media will not allow the likes of extremist pressure to decide what is appropriate for publication or what the news will be. We must not allow censorship of any material that is vital for public consumption through fear.