Moroccan-Born Baker Closes French Shop After Year of Racist Harassment

Mouhssine Zouine, 43, settled in Saint-Marcellin (Isère) two and a half years ago and opened his bakery there. On June 18, he locked up for good. A year earlier, he denounced, in a video that went viral on social media, daily racist attacks: spitting, trash and excrement, urine on the window, etc. Despite his denunciations, the attacks, threats and insults continued, he recounts to Bondy Blog.

"From October 2021, things started to deteriorate. Some people would accost me and ask why I was making Oriental pastries when we’re in France. Others mocked the fact that an "Arab" was making bread. One day, a lady even told me she hated Moroccans. My parents are from Morocco... Another time, a customer asked me for a ham and butter sandwich and a beer, products I don’t offer, and then threw at me: "What kind of bitch bakery is this?", confides the Moroccan.

And he adds: "For me, it was childishness [...] But things got worse... Some customers told me they had been pressured not to come and buy from me anymore, a boycott call that had a very quick effect. I went from 200 baguettes a day to 50." A situation that has greatly affected the Moroccan. "Since February, I’ve lost a lot of weight... Mentally, it’s very hard. I’m on the verge of depression. I preferred to lock up and keep what little health I have left."

Mouhssine Zouine denounces discrimination against Muslims in France. "They attribute all the evils to them. I was born in France, I grew up here, I have no ties to Morocco. When I go there, I’m like any other tourist. I’m an immigrant on both sides... I pay more taxes than most of those who insulted me. But I’m considered an Arab who has no place here. Fortunately, some customers continued to support me, but that wasn’t enough."