The demonstration in Paris was attended by members of the left-wing political party La France Insoumise (LFI), including Jean-Luc Mélenchon and several LFI deputies. Protesters carried signs reading messages such as, “Racism begins with words and ends like Aboubakar,” according to AFP.
Tarek, a 44-year-old production manager from the Paris region, said, “With the death of Aboubakar Cissé, a red line has been crossed,” while carrying a large French flag.
Organizers estimated the Paris turnout at 15,000. Demonstrations were also held in other cities, including Lille, Lyon, and Marseille.
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LFI deputy Éric Coquerel said, “There has been an undeniable rise in Islamophobia, culminating in the death of Aboubakar Cissé in a mosque.”
He criticized Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, saying, “We will never stop holding accountable those who blur the lines between the right and far-right.” He assured French Muslims, “We won’t give up.”
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In Marseille, one sign read, “Islamophobia kills, wounds, discriminates, humiliates… Stop.” A Catholic priest and a Protestant pastor also joined the march, calling for peaceful coexistence.
France’s Interior Ministry reported a 72% increase in anti-Muslim acts during the first three months of 2025, compared to the same period in 2024, with 79 incidents recorded.
Source: Agencies