Britain’s communists have joined voices with the world in condemning “without reservation” the “barbarous murders” of journalists in Paris and other civilians by jihadist terrorists.

“Hard-won democratic and human rights must always be defended against reactionary elements and states that seek to undermine and destroy them,” general secretary Rob Griffiths told the party’s weekend executive committee meeting at its headquarters in Ruskin House, Croydon.

Mr Griffiths also reaffirmed the Communist Party’s long-standing commitment to secularism, multiculturalism and working-class unity against all forms of racism and religious fundamentalism.

But he slammed the “hypocrisy” and “double standards” of politicians and commentators who deplored the shooting of Charlie Hebdo journalists last Wednesday yet who had justified the US and Nato bombing of Serbian and Al-Jazeera TV stations during the wars in Yugoslavia, Afghanistan and Iraq.

“It should be remembered that the seeds of Islamist terrorism were sown by the US, British and Nato interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq, beginning with Western and Saudi Arabian backing for the mojahedin and Osama bin Laden against progressive, pro-women regimes in Kabul,” the CP leader pointed out.

Looking ahead to this year and next, the new executive adopted a plan to strengthen the labour movement politically, build the People’s Assembly together with the women’s, peace and other progressive movements, secure more support for Britain’s only left-wing daily newspaper the Morning Star and to extend the Communist Party’s organisation and political influence.

More immediately, they urged support for the CND Wrap Up Trident demonstration on January 24 and the Women’s Assembly against Austerity on February 14.

CP picks officers for year of struggle

As the first meeting of the new executive since the party’s 53rd congress in November, the committee elected the following officers for a two-year term of office: Liz Payne (chair), Ruth Styles (vice-chair), Robert Griffiths (general secretary), Graham Stevenson (trade union organiser), John Foster (international secretary), Anita Halpin (editor of party bulletin Unity) and Bill Greenshields (political education organiser).

National organiser Ben Stevenson, Morning Star acting editor Ben Chacko and London CP district secretary Steve Johnson will join the main officers on the party’s political committee.