No Eiffel Tower in the colors of Pakistan, why?

Published on 28 March 2016

Here's a statement, at once unsettling, made by the Paris city hall, which apparently ranks the importance of tributes following the recent attacks erupting here and there. Explanations.

To show the city's support for the Belgian victims of the attacks a few days ago, the Eiffel Tower was lit up in the colors of the Belgian flag, as had been done after the November attacks and the French flag. A gesture that was praised and appreciated, with strong symbolic reach.

But there you go, yesterday, a terrible attack killed dozens of victims in Pakistan, in the province of Lahore. An attack of rare violence, mainly targeting children, the suicide bomber having blown himself up near the swings of an amusement park frequented by Christians for Easter.

The world was deeply moved by these attacks, and yet, the Paris city hall decided not to light the tower in the colors of Pakistan. Why? Here is the city hall's answer (via Europe1):

[](http://www.berthine.fr/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/e1_pakistan_eiffel.jpeg)

Through this message we understand the importance of the notion of "death by the kilometer." Yet the large Pakistani community in Paris would probably have been touched by such a gesture.

Why not make the Eiffel Tower a universal symbol of support and solidarity between peoples, and make this kind of tribute systematic, even with more distant countries or ones less culturally close to us? Must we remain in this unhealthy stance where emotion fades with distance, skin color, or religion? The question is raised.

(Photo: LaFilledelaCom)

Photo credit: DR

By Paingout