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Samuel Paty's death came almost six years after the Charlie Hebdo killings: a series of terror attacks that ultimately claimed 18 lives over the course of three days. The mass shootings were provoked by the satirical magazine's decision to publish caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad: images that are considered blasphemous in Islam.
This year, the Charlie Hebdo killers went on trial, which prompted the publication to revive the controversial pictures. 47-year-old Samuel Paty decided to educate his students on the significance of "freedom of speech", and used these cartoons to do so. Days later, he was murdered in the street, and France was once again forced to consider if, when, and where the line should be drawn. Protesters have since lined the streets with placards that read "I am a teacher", echoing the "I am Charlie" sentiments of 2015.
Thursday the 29th of October: A Bleak Day for France
On Thursday the 29th of October, three worshippers were stabbed to death at a church in Nice, France. One 60-year-old female victim was "virtually beheaded"; a 55-year-old had his throat cut, and a 44-year-old woman died after being stabbed multiple times. The male victim worked at the church, and had two children with his wife. The attacker has been named as 21-year-old Brahim Aioussaoi: a Tunisian national who arrived in France at the start of October. At the time of arrest, he was not carrying any identification, so officials are still verifying his name. Aioussaoi, who was unknown to the authorities and not on the national fingerprint register, was described as advancing towards officers in a "threatening manner, shouting 'Allahu Akbar', forcing them to use an electric pulse pistol and then firing their service weapon several times." The suspected terrorist is thought to have been working alone; he was shot in the shoulder by police, and is now in hospital.
In response to the tragedy, Nice mayor Christian Estrosi declared: "Enough is enough. We have to remove this Islamo-fascism from our territory." President Emmanuel Macron visited the site on Thursday afternoon, and told reporters: "Our country has been attacked... I would like to express the support of France towards the Catholic community." After the attack, which reportedly lasted 28 minutes, the country's national terror alert guidance has been raised to the highest "emergency" level. In addition, 4000 troops are set to be deployed nationwide, to protect schools and places of worship. Macron added that France should not succumb to the "spirit of division".
Pope Francis is praying for the victims, while Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed his "deep sympathy and solidarity" to those affected. Sanchez elaborated, "We will keep defending freedom, our democratic values, peace and security of our citizen. United in face of terror and hatred." The Turkish Foreign Ministry has also "strongly" condemned this violence, and sends "condolences to the relatives of those who lost their lives".
On the same day, a suspected terrorist was shot dead by police in Avignon. He had allegedly been threatening passers-by with a handgun, and was eventually killed after refusing to lower his weapon. A flash-ball shot was also not enough to disarm him. The suspect was initially reported to have shouted "Allahu Akbar", however one source suggests the man was undergoing psychiatric treatment, and did not pose an Islamist terrorist threat. The suspect was reportedly wearing a jacket with the motto "Defend Europe", which is a reference to a series of anti-refugee operations by Generation Identity. The far-right group argues that white people are being "replaced", and fights for the "remigration" of Muslims. The group was endorsed by the terrorist who attacked a New Zealand mosque last year, however they are keen to disassociate themselves from this individual.
Then, the world learnt that a Saudi national had been arrested in Jeddah, after stabbing a guard with a "sharp tool" at the French consulate. The embassy confirmed: “The assailant was apprehended by Saudi security forces immediately after the attack. The guard was taken to hospital and his life is not in danger." Security around the consulate immediately tightened, as police cars were seen patrolling the complex.
The Boycott
President Macron has described Islam as a "religion in crisis", and refuses to condemn the caricatures. In an apparent act of defiance, some of the cartoons were projected onto two government buildings: a move that only heightened tensions.
Tens of thousands of Muslims have since taken to the streets of Pakistan, Lebanon, Afghanistan, and the Gaza Strip to protest the government's inaction. In Bangladesh, 40,000 activists demonstrated against Macron, with some burning effigies of the president. Many chanted "Boycott French products!" as they marched through Dhaka, however police blocked them from reaching the French embassy.
Social media has witnessed a spike in hashtags such as #BoycottFrenchProducts and #NeverTheProphet. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has encouraged his citizens to boycott French goods, while Chechen mufti Salakh Mezhiyev has described Macron as "terrorist No.1 in the world". Mezhiyev continued, “By insulting our prophet, you insult all prophets (peace be upon them) and all religions", before accusing the president of "ordering" the projection of cartoons on "all government buildings" in France.
Supermarket chains in Kuwait and Qatar have begun pulling French products from their stores. Reuters visited a series of co-ops in Kuwait, and found several shelves had been completely cleared. The notion has been backed by Muslims from around the world, however France's foreign affairs ministry claimed “These calls for boycott are baseless and should stop immediately, as well as all attacks against our country, which are being pushed by a radical minority."
Islamophobia: On the Rise?
Since Paty's tragic death, many Muslims are living in fear of vilification and increased hostility. Yasser Louati, a French Muslim activist, worries that Macron is “using Islamophobia to power his campaign", as more than 50 Muslim organisations are set to be closed down. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin has even suggested that The Collective Against Islamophobia in France should also be disbanded: a move that has been discouraged by academics. However, the threats faced by Muslims are not just verbal.
One day after Paty was murdered, two Algerian Muslim women were targeted in a knife attack that appeared to be racially motivated. After expressing concerns about an unleashed dog, they were called "dirty Arabs", told to "go home", and stabbed multiple times. The incident took place near the Eiffel tower; one woman was left with six wounds and a punctured lung, while the other needed an operation on her hand. Neither victims' lives are in danger. (Arya Jyothi wrote about this incident in more detail; click here to read the article in full.)
One week after the stabbing of "Kenza" and "Amal", the Jordanian Abu Eid siblings were "severely beaten" at a bus stop. Mohammed and Heba had reportedly been speaking Arabic to one another, when they were followed onto a bus and told “This is France, this is our [country], not yours.” The siblings were reportedly chased off the bus, and were eventually "beaten up" at a student housing complex. Mohammed, an Arabic teacher, had to be hospitalised. He reportedly sustained these injuries after trying to protect his sister, who is currently studying for her Masters degree. The victims asked onlookers to alert the police, but no such effort was made. The perpetrators are yet to be identified, but Heba recalls: "They wanted to aggravate us. They insulted us in front of everyone. It was scary."
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