Political Scientist Apologizes for ’Muslim in Appearance’ Comment About French Mayor

Commenting on Sunday on a video of Karim Bouamrane’s intervention on the show Quelle époque broadcast on Saturday, Pascal Boniface described the mayor of Saint-Ouen as a "Muslim in appearance". "Honestly, I wonder about this man whom I do not know personally. Is he an example of meritocracy? If so, bravo! Or is he instrumentalized as a ’Muslim in appearance’ who does not criticize Netanyahu and therefore benefits from a lot of media promotion," the political scientist wrote on X.

The reaction of the socialist elected official did not wait. "’Muslim in appearance’: after 3 hours of the show, after 30 years of commitment on the left; elected official of the Republic since 1995, this is how a researcher qualifies me and definitively disqualifies himself. The fight against essentialization continues! Long live the Republic! Long live France!" Karim Bouamrane replied on the same social network. And the director of IRIS to insist: "I am just wondering about your career, your media success and I wonder if it is linked to a ’discretion’ on the wars in the Middle East. I think your aggressive response clarifies things. Thank you."

Boniface’s first post sparked a lively controversy. Many socialist and Macronist personalities expressed their support for Karim Bouamrane. "No one should be assigned a supposed religious or cultural identity. No one should prejudge what a Muslim, a Jew, a Christian or an atheist can think. Even less judge that a position can make him a ’Muslim in appearance’," deplored Olivier Faure, the First Secretary of the Socialist Party.

The city of Dijon, upset by these comments from Pascal Boniface, did not hesitate to cancel the 7th edition of the Internationales organized on November 22 and 23 by the city, in partnership with IRIS. "The comments of Mr. Boniface [...] are opposed to the values of inclusion and mutual respect defended by the City of Dijon. Such remarks, which contribute to identity assignment and division, are unacceptable," it said in a statement.

Faced with the outcry, the director of IRIS finally deleted his tweet on Monday, admitting to having made inappropriate remarks. "Faced with the emotion aroused by my tweet on Karim Bouamrane, I acknowledge that the use of the expression ’Muslim in appearance’ is clumsy and gives rise to interpretations that are contrary to my thinking. I therefore withdraw this tweet while maintaining the substantive questions I raise in the face of the silence concerning an unacceptable situation in Gaza, where the risk of genocide is more evident every day."