One student has spoken up against the world leaders with poor human rights records who took it upon themselves to march for free speech following the Charlie Hebdo terrorist attacks.

In what is believed to be the biggest march in France since Paris' liberation from the Nazis in 1944, an estimated 1.5 million people took to the streets in the aftermath of the Paris terror attacks on Sunday. At the head of the march were 40 world leaders, including King Abdullah of Jordan, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyehu and British Prime Minister David Cameron.

United front or hypocritical? World leaders walk arm-in-arm at the head of the Paris march on Sunday. Credit:AFP

In a series of tweets, London School of Economics student Daniel Wickham attacked some of the world leaders for attending the rally despite restricting press freedom in their own countries.

French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo has attracted controversy through its non-conformist reports, cartoons and jokes, including cartoons mocking the Prophet Muhammad. Since the terrorist attack the phrase Je suis Charlie, or "I am Charlie", has been adopted as a cry for free speech.