Muslim Man Assaulted Over Christmas Photos; Three Suspects Questioned in Belfort

According to a police source, three men were heard for having beaten in Belfort a Muslim man and son of police officers after he posted photos of his Christmas dinner on social networks. The custody of three of them continues. The third, who is the author of the message at the origin of the violence, was, for his part, released after his hearing. The Belfort public prosecutor’s office announced that a judicial investigation has been opened. It aims to "confirm the circumstances that triggered the brawl".

A doctor issued a 4-day temporary work interruption (ITT) to the 20-year-old victim of this assault, the alleged perpetrators of which are four individuals, reports AFP. This young Muslim and son of police officers received a threatening message from one of his acquaintances, after posting a photo of his Christmas Eve on Snapchat: "Dirty son of a white, son of a snake, son of police officers... 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 celebrate 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 awaited there by five people who violently beat him and threatened him not to file a complaint, it was indicated from the same source.

It was "out of the question" for him to fight and especially not to "find himself on the ground beaten by several people", it is specified. But the three suspects who presented themselves on their own initiative on Friday and Saturday at the Belfort police station gave another version of the facts. According to them, it was a matter of reciprocal violence and provocation on the part of the one who claims to be the victim.