Credited from: LEMONDE
On April 26, a Muslim worshipper was fatally stabbed inside a mosque in La Grand-Combe, prompting outrage throughout France. The attacker allegedly filmed the assault while shouting derogatory remarks about Islam, branding the act as "Islamophobic," according to Le Monde and Al Jazeera.
French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the murder, stating, "Racism and hatred based on religion can have no place in France," and emphasized that "freedom of worship cannot be violated." His comments were echoed by Prime Minister François Bayrou, who labeled the stabbing an "Islamophobic atrocity," as reported by Le Monde, Los Angeles Times, and Anadolu Agency.
The alleged assailant, identified as Olivier H., a French citizen of Bosnian origin, was on the run before surrendering to authorities in Italy. Prosecutor Abdelkrim Grini described the attack as "potentially extremely dangerous," urging for vigilance regarding the suspect's motives, as covered by Dawn and Los Angeles Times.
In the aftermath of the attack, a series of protests against Islamophobia were scheduled across major French cities, including Paris, where demonstrators honored the victim, a young Malian known as Aboubakar, who was stabbed multiple times while alone in the mosque after praying. The response from various communities highlights the urgency of addressing rising religious intolerance in France, as reported by Le Monde, Al Jazeera, and Anadolu Agency.