France

Articles

• Comedian Jamel Debbouze Reflects on Life-Changing Accident That Cost Him His Arm
  28 August 2021, by Sylvanus

  The Franco-Moroccan comedian Jamel Debbouze looks back on the loss of his right arm, 31 years after this terrible accident that changed his life.
  The accident dates back to 1990. Jamel Debbouze, then 14 years old, was hit by the Paris-Nantes train at the Trappes station on January 16. At the hospital, the doctor tells him that he will no longer be able to use his right hand. This news is far from saddening him. "The first reflex I have when the doctor announces it to me is to ask him to (…)

• Drunk Woman Assaults Police in Montauban, France; Eight Officers Injured
  14 April, by Sylvanus

  In Montauban (Tarn-et-Garonne), a young heavily intoxicated Moroccan woman and a man were arrested, placed in custody, then in detention after a violent confrontation with police officers during a nighttime intervention in a building. Their trial is expected to open before the Montauban criminal court this Tuesday.
  On Thursday evening, a routine intervention for nighttime disturbance in a building turned into a confrontation. Alerted by residents, officers from the police station arrived (…)

• French Government Vows ’Intractable’ Response to Racist Attacks on Miss Nord-Pas-de-Calais
  26 October 2024, by Prince

  Elected Miss Nord-Pas-de-Calais last Saturday, Sabah Aib admitted a few days later on Instagram that she had been the victim of racism on social networks. Through the voice of Othman Nasrou, Secretary of State for Citizenship and the Fight against Discrimination, the French government reacted to this matter, stating that it will be "intractable" in the face of racism.
  Of Algerian father and Moroccan mother, Sabah Aib denounced the racist comments she has been the victim of on social (…)

• Carrefour Faces Renewed Boycott Calls in Morocco Over Map Controversy
  18 March, by Said

  An advertising brochure from the French supermarket chain Carrefour is causing outrage in Morocco and calls for a boycott. The issue: the representation of the kingdom without its Sahara.
  This is not the first time Carrefour has made such a mistake. A previous publication presenting the same geographical anomaly had already provoked strong reactions. The warnings issued at the time have apparently not been taken into account, according to several comments read on social networks.
  This (…)

• Omar Raddad: French Court Rejects New Trial in Decades-Old Murder Case
  13 October 2022, by Ginette

  The former Moroccan gardener Omar Raddad will not have a new trial. The justice rejected on Thursday the second request for review filed by his lawyer Me Sylvie Noachovitch, based on new elements.
  The investigating commission of the court of review ruled on Thursday that the request of the former Moroccan gardener Omar Raddad, convicted twenty-eight years ago for the murder of Ghislaine Marchal and who wanted a new trial, was inadmissible. His lawyer said she was "disappointed" and (…)

• Between Morocco and Algeria, Emmanuel Macron chooses his camp
  30 October 2024, by Prince

  In crisis with Algeria since he expressed his support for the Moroccan autonomy plan for the Sahara last July, Emmanuel Macron has just closed the door to any possible reconciliation with this country by making a state visit to Morocco.
  Emmanuel Macron wants to normalize relations with Morocco. In the logical continuation of his recognition of the Moroccanness of the Sahara, a decision that has helped to ease tensions with the kingdom, the French president has been on a three-day state (…)

• France Imposes COVID-19 Tests on Arrivals from Morocco and Other Non-EU Countries
  1 November 2020, by Bladi.net

  Faced with the rise in contamination in the country, the French authorities have confined the population again. To avoid taking any risks, they are imposing, from November 7 next, a covid-19 test on passengers from outside Europe, including Morocco, before any entry into the territory.
  All non-European Union countries are affected by this measure decided to counter the coronavirus, reports Ouest France. By imposing this measure, the French authorities want to limit the number of infected (…)

• Parents Decry ’Racist Justice’ After Driver Sentenced in 8-Year-Old’s Fatal Pedestrian Crossing Accident
  21 December 2022, by Sylvanus

  The reaction of Yanis’ parents, the 8-year-old child who died in February after being hit by a car on a pedestrian crossing in Villeneuve-de-la-Raho, did not wait after the verdict of the Perpignan Criminal Court, which sentenced the driver to two years in prison with probation. They denounce "a racist justice" and intend to appeal the judgment.
  It is "a racist justice, our son’s name is Yanis and not Yannick," denounced on Tuesday the parents of Yanis at the end of the trial on the death (…)

• Ryanair Flight Lands at XCR Airport Despite Previous Cancellation Announcement
  3 April, by Prince

  While it had announced last month the cancellation of its lines to Vatry airport (Marne) from Porto (Portugal) and Marrakech (Morocco), Ryanair continued to serve XCR Airport.
  Travelers were greatly surprised to see a Ryanair plane land on the runways of XCR Airport this Wednesday, April 2, 2025. "We didn’t know if we were going to take off, because Ryanair wasn’t telling us anything. Until the day before yesterday (Monday), we didn’t know," says a passenger to France 3. "We tried to (…)

• French Muslims Call for Boycott of Halal Brands Accused of Supporting Israel
  20 December 2023, by Sylvanus

  At a time when the Israeli army is continuing its retaliation against the Palestinian Hamas movement, calls for boycotts are multiplying in France against halal brands deemed pro-Israel.
  Tough times for halal brands deemed pro-Israel. On TikTok and X (formerly Twitter), French Muslims, including influencers, are calling through videos to boycott these brands, whom they accuse of supporting the Israeli army in its retaliation against Hamas, which carried out a spectacular and surprise (…)