The government is facing a "pandemic" and the dilemma of militancy

The recent terrorist attack in France raises anger and fear

  • French officials anticipated possible protests against the teacher.

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France saw rallies across the country in defense of freedom of expression and secularism on Sunday, while the government discussed showing a stronger response to extremism after the brutal killing of a French school teacher last week.

Tens of thousands of demonstrators, wearing face masks, in accordance with the measures of the Corona virus, took place in Republic Square in the capital, Paris, and many other major cities, after the beheading of the history teacher in the middle school, Samuel Patty, on Friday.

Some waved French flags and banners celebrating freedom of expression, while speakers woefully praised the country's latest victim of terrorism.

The state of shock and sadness, these days, is a repeat of what happened nearly six years ago, when millions of demonstrators, waving a pencil, defended freedom of expression, in the wake of the terrorist attacks that targeted the offices of the satirical "Charlie Hebdo" magazine.

"Freedom of expression is a fundamental value of our identity," Prime Minister Jean Castex told the weekly Le Journal du Dimanche, while speakers at Sunday rallies warned against responding to hate with hate.

In the wake of the January 2015 attacks, Castex repeated the slogan: "I am Charlie," adding: "I am Charlie more than ever."

But despite calls for national unity, after this second terrorist attack in less than a month, this moment is also marked by division and criticism over the government's response to radicalism.

It also comes in the midst of a completely different battle the country is waging against another crisis, the Corona virus pandemic, and it is partially shaped by it.

They or we

"They or we," "Le Point" magazine says in an editorial dealing with the murder, while regional "Lotgram" writes that Friday's attack "reminds us of the extent of the threat facing our French model of education, and the separation between church and state."

Approximately a dozen people were detained for questioning in the killing of Patti, which occurred while he was on his way home from school.

Among them was the family of the suspect, an 18-year-old Chechen refugee whom officials identified as Abdullah A., who was shot dead by police shortly after he stabbed and beheaded his victim.

The alleged attacker posted a picture of Patti on Twitter, after his killing, and also left a threatening message to President Emmanuel Macron.

Reuters reported that the Twitter platform quickly removed the post, saying that the account was suspended because it violated the company's policy.

The accident comes less than a month after a Pakistani immigrant stabbed two people outside the old "Charlie Hebdo" headquarters in Paris.

In both cases, the suspects appeared to take revenge on the offensive cartoons of the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, that originally led to the January 2015 terrorist attack.

A state of shock

In Conflans Saint-Honorine, about 30 kilometers from Paris, a large number of flower bouquets were placed in front of the school where the victim worked, and it is now closed.

Residents praised a landmark, which many described as gentle but strict.

Some describe Patti as a "martyr."

"We are in a state of shock," said Sophie Venetiti, representative of the teachers' union for "France Info" radio.

Follow-up: "It is the school as a whole that is under attack, for its desire to open minds."

The teacher’s killing came after he showed students cartoons of the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, as part of a lesson on freedom of expression.

Students say it is not the first time, and they say the teacher informed Muslims in the class that they are free to leave, warning that they may find the pictures horrific.

But some parents were not happy.

According to reports, one of the parents, in particular, posted his grievances on social media, and gained support from the well-known militant, Abd al-Hakim al-Safriwi.

According to the newspaper "Le Journal Dodemansch", the authorities considered Sefriwi an inciter, but he was not dangerous.

Officials reportedly expected possible protests against the teacher, but did not expect any violent retaliation.

Many questions remain, but investigators have not yet found direct links between the Chechen suspect, who lived in Normandy - west of the capital, and the Parisian school.

While Macron is chairing a meeting to discuss tougher measures against extremism, the ruling party is preparing new legislation against "separatism", which largely targets radical militancy.

Because of the negative reactions, the president is struggling over his response to the Corona virus.

Critics describe the government's recent moves against extremism as equally disappointing.

In response to the French president's recent statements that "the extremists will never win," the leader of the extreme right, Marine Le Pen, responded on Twitter: "They are already here;

Including our schools! ».

"Big speeches need to be cleared for making big decisions," said center-right Republican Party leader Christian Jacob, referring to Macron's tendency to escalate rhetoric.

For their part, leaders of the Muslim community in France, the largest in Western Europe, fear that the recent attack will intensify anti-Muslim sentiment, which they say has been on the rise in recent years.

"I am astonished by this terrifying act, which has nothing to do with religion," the imam of the Bordeaux mosque, Tariq Obrot, told France Radio, adding that the Muslim community in the country was "doubly affected, as citizens and Muslims."

• President Macron, due to negative reactions, is struggling over his response to the Corona virus.

Critics describe the government's recent moves against extremism as equally disappointing.

• Leaders of the Muslim community in France, which is the largest in Western Europe, fear that the latest attack will intensify anti-Muslim sentiments, which they say have been on the rise in recent years.

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