The fatal stabbing of a Muslim worshiper in a mosque in France has sparked significant criticism directed at government officials for their initial response, which did not treat the incident as a potential hate crime.
The victim, Aboubakar Cissé, a 21-year-old from Mali, was attacked while praying in a mosque in La Grand-Combe, a small town in southern France, on Friday morning.
The main suspect, who filmed himself over the victim, was reported to have insulted Allah in the video shared on Snapchat. Initially, a local prosecutor suggested that the killing was the result of a dispute between two worshipers. However, the prosecutor later acknowledged that the investigation was being conducted as an “anti-Muslim act” or one with “Islamophobic connotations.” Other potential motives being explored include a fascination with death and a desire to kill.
The suspect fled to Italy before surrendering to police in Pistoia, near Florence, on Sunday. Identified as a French national of Bosnian descent born in 2004, he was previously unknown to law enforcement. He has not yet been returned to France or charged with a crime.
A spokesperson for Cissé’s ethnic group expressed fear following the attack, questioning the safety of the Muslim community in France. This incident occurred shortly after a separate stabbing at a high school in Nantes, which resulted in a swift government response, leading to allegations of a double standard in handling the two cases.
While the interior minister expressed support for the victim’s family and the Muslim community, he did not visit the mosque immediately after the attack, unlike his prompt response to the school incident. President Emmanuel Macron also delayed his comments until Sunday, emphasizing the nation's support for the victim's family and condemning racism and religious hatred.
Despite ten percent of France’s population identifying as Muslim, the country maintains a complex relationship with Islam, characterized by ongoing debates over secularism and religious expression. Critics have noted a slow governmental response to the mosque killing, suggesting political reluctance to support the Muslim community.
Approximately 1,000 people participated in a silent march in La Grand-Combe to honor Cissé, though many lamented the absence of political figures. Another demonstration took place in Paris, where leftist politicians linked the violence to an escalating Islamophobic climate.
A minute of silence was observed in the National Assembly for Cissé, although consensus among top lawmakers was not reached on the matter. Family members expressed shock at the media coverage and political reactions to the tragedy, highlighting Cissé's positive influence within his community.