Following the recent suicide bombing in Pakistan’s Lahore city that left more than 72 dead and several hundreds injured, a streak of solidarity with the victims was witnessed in many parts of the world.
Amid this, an image of France’s famous Eiffel Tower illuminated in green and white was shared by thousands of people on Twitter and Facebook, who speculated that it could be in solidarity with the Pakistanis. There were words of praise for the French government that it chose to sympathise with the Pakistanis the way it did for victims of Brussels bombing.
It turns out to be false. According to a report in The Independent, the picture was taken in 2007 when France illuminated the monument in honour of hosting the Rugby World Cup.
“The green section represented the pitch, while white beams of light created the illusion of goalposts and a giant rugby ball was suspended from the second floor,” the report said.
In the wake of terror attacks in Brussels last week, Eiffel Tower had lit up in the colour of Belgian flag after 35 people were left dead.
Now, Twitter is littered with strong reactions slamming the “indifferent” and “selective attitude” of European nations in condemning terror attacks.
Here are some such reactions
Eiffel Tower not lighting up for victims of the Lahore blast truly displays how racist the French government is
— Afghan Montana (@Afg_Guerrilla) March 30, 2016
The Eiffel tower never lit up for #Pakistan or victims of the #LahoreBlast . The mayor of #Paris refuses to do it. https://t.co/DzAuJZxUDt
— Rafia Zakaria (@rafiazakaria) March 29, 2016
Please delete your ‘Eiffel Tower lights up in solidarity with #LahoreBlast ‘ tweets. Not true. The picture is from 2007 Rugby World Cup.
— Godfather IV (@godfatheriv) March 28, 2016
Quite sure that Eiffel Tower would NOT be lit in white and green after #LahoreBlast. Well, none of the Europeans died, right?
— Chirag Goel (@ChiragGOfficial) March 27, 2016
Is the Eiffel tower green today?
Oops. I forgot. It’s a Muslim country that lost innocent lives.#LahoreBlast— Amna Nawaz (@amnanawaz) March 27, 2016
Today the Eiffel Tower wont be lighted in Pakistani colours ? As if Pakistan is not a part of this world ? #DoubleStandards #LahoreBlast
— Abdul Majeed (@majeedbarot) March 27, 2016
No #JeSuisLahore/#IamLahore HTs; no green&white lights on the #EiffelTower– bcus the dead are just some sub-humans in #Pakistan.#LahoreBlast
— Jawad (@JShk3) March 27, 2016
OMG #Pakistan U Live in a Parallel Universe if U think the #EiffelTower will light up for Us The French would sooner demolish it KnowThyself
— DeNial = a River (@Freedom_Sweven) March 28, 2016
Feature image source: Facebook/Pakistan For All