Muslim Man Assaulted in France After Sharing Christmas Celebration Photos Online

It all started with the photos this 20-year-old Muslim young man posted on social media. In these photos, he is seen celebrating Christmas. He says he first received a threatening message from one of his acquaintances, after his publication on Snapchat: "You dirty white son, snake son, son of cops... I’ll show you what a real rebeu is."

According to a police source, the young man recounts that the author of the message, whom he knew from school and his football club, had threatened him and his parents. He says he is shocked to see him celebrating Christmas when he is Muslim. This reaction surprised the Belfortain who wanted to have an explanation with the author of the message. The latter invited him to a meeting. But he was met there by five people who violently assaulted him and threatened him not to file a complaint, it was reported from the same source.

"He fell into an ambush," said the victim’s mother, a judicial police officer. "This case must not go unpunished," she hammered. "These are sectarian and racist behaviors. It is unacceptable in the 21st century. Everyone is free to celebrate what they want and how they want."

This assault sparked a wave of outrage. "A young man assaulted because he would have celebrated Christmas and would not be a ’good Arab’. Aggravating circumstance: being the son of police officers. No place for separatism in our country, no place for racism from wherever it comes," reacted Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, stating that an investigation has been opened.

"Unacceptable aggression motivated by too ordinary racism and hatred of the police. France needs a republican authority that expresses itself truly and effectively. All my support to the victim and his family," commented the president of the Grand-Est region, Jean Rottner, on the same social network. Michel Corriaux, regional secretary of the Alliance national police union, expressed his "anger and disgust" in a message.