Béziers Mourns 61-Year-Old Moroccan Man Killed by Young Neighbor

Driss Bouhaja, president of the Franco-Moroccan Friendship Association of Béziers, knew the victim and part of his family. "As we often say, but it’s not exaggerated, Mohammed was a good man," he testifies to Midi Libre, his voice choked. A discreet worker, a renowned vine pruner, Mohammed Idrissi was originally from Taourirt, Morocco, and had lived in France for 25 years. He alternated stays in France for work and returns to Morocco to see his family. "He was the image of his hometown, calm, warm..." remembers Driss Bouhaja.

Mohammed Idrissi had confided to his brother and family that he felt threatened by his neighbor. "Unconsciously, when someone approaches death, he says goodbye to his loved ones, without realizing it," analyzes Driss Bouhaja. "And he told his brother: ’If anything serious happens to me, don’t look for it, it will be my neighbor.’" Mohammed Idrissi had filed a complaint and was supposed to move on the very day of the tragedy.

Faced with the anger of the Moroccan community in Béziers, Driss Bouhaja called for calm and letting justice take its course. "I spoke a lot because it was very badly experienced by the community," he explains. "I explained that we should not give in to anger. That we should not judge, because justice was there for that." He also expresses compassion for the suspect’s daughter, who will grow up without her mother.

Driss Bouhaja regrets that the other residents of the building did not support Mohammed Idrissi against his neighbor. He also deplores that the complaint filed by the victim remained without effect. "How could they, all together, have been afraid of a single woman? I ask myself a lot of questions," he confides.

The march on Sunday will be a tribute to Mohammed Idrissi and a message of peace. "Hatred makes incredibly stupid," emphasizes Driss Bouhaja. "That’s what happened to this woman. She harassed Mohammed, because he had filed a complaint against her. She didn’t understand that she had to stop. No one is born with a knife in hand. She couldn’t control herself. It’s this hatred that pushed her to act. We see nothing else. As often in our society, reflection and dialogue were lacking. All this is very unfortunate. Two families are suffering today. And I don’t count the friends."

The procession will start from the sub-prefecture at 2 p.m. and head towards Avenue Clemenceau then the Allées Paul-Riquet. A stop is planned in front of the building where Mohammed Idrissi lived for a prayer.