France

Four men charged with terrorist conspiracy and weapons offenses for their role in the deadly 2018 Strasbourg Christmas market attack went on trial Thursday.

Cherif Chekatt killed five people and wounded 11 others when he opened fire on the open-air market in the northeastern French city. The 29-year-old was shot dead by police after a two-day manhunt.

One of his four alleged accomplices faces terrorism charges and could face life in prison, The other three face criminal conspiracy charges for their role in supplying weapons and could face 10-years inprisonment if convicted.

A new ban on foreign-appointed imams in France is aimed at combating Islamist separatism, but the policy risks making matters worse by handing future decisions about hiring imams over to local groups affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood. The French move is an example of a political decision that sounds superficially positive. Unfortunately, it fails to address the complex, often unofficial processes by which Islamist ideology is currently disseminated. As such, it offers an object lesson in what not to do, worthy of close observation.

Two years ago, Éric Zemmour was the most talked-about man in France and a serious contender to be the ninth president of the Fifth Republic. A controversial journalist turned incendiary politician, he vied with Marine Le Pen for second place behind Emmanuel Macron in the polls. Crucially, he seemed to have something she lacked – an ability still to appeal to the Catholic bourgeoisie while tapping into widespread anger at mass immigration.

But then Russia attacked Ukraine, the mood of Europe changed, and Zemmour’s political fortunes sank as quickly as they had risen. He finished a distant fourth in the first round of the presidential election, with 7 per cent of the vote. The experience did not put him off running for high office, however, and today he is back in campaign mode looking ahead to the European elections in June and beyond.

Five years after the Islamist attacks that cost a gendarmerie officer his life, the trial against the terrorism co-conspirators opened in Paris this week.

Lieutenant-Colonel Arnaud Beltrame died at the hands of terrorists in the Islamist attacks in Trèbes and Carcassonne in March 2018 after exchanging himself for a hostage. The freed hostage explained that she had found faith through the sacrifice of Lieutenant-Colonel Beltrame.

A total of 90,000 police officers and gendarmes will be deployed throughout the country this weekend

French authorities warned of a “very high” terror threat on New Year’s Eve due to the war in Gaza as Germany also braced itself for violence.

Gérard Darmanin, the French interior minister, said on Friday that 90,000 police officers and gendarmes will be deployed throughout the country during the upcoming festivities.

“I’ve requested a very strong mobilisation of police forces and the gendarmerie under the context of a very high terrorist threat, of course due to what’s happening in Israel and Palestine,” Mr Darmanin said.

The 18th-century epigrammatist and aphorist Nicolas Chamfort famously described his country, France, as “the perfected civilization.” Nowadays, the nearly six million Muslim economic migrants and their children in France have contributed much to the undoing of that civilization, spreading fear and insecurity. From the annals of Muslim mayhem, carried out against French people, here is one recent story: “‘Dirty White’ – Thugs stab young French father 9 times, leave him with 40 stitches,” by John Cody, Remix News, December 15, 2023

Just days before Christmas, a significant anti-terrorist operation in France led to the arrest of five individuals, averting a potential Islamic terror attack. Conducted by the National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor’s Office (PNAT) across Meurthe-et-Moselle, this timely intervention showcases the ongoing efforts of French authorities to ensure public safety during a season of heightened alert. Amidst rising global tensions, and with Christmas just days away, this operation stands as a critical juncture in the ongoing fight against Islamic terrorism.

The increase in Islamist attacks in France in recent months has particularly affected the teaching profession. State schools have long been a symbol of the French nation and the Republic, which explains this focus by terrorists.

Since the beheading of history teacher Samuel Paty in October 2020, who was murdered for commenting on cartoons depicting the Islamic Prophet Mohammed in a lesson on freedom of expression, terrorist acts targeting teachers have increased in France.

About 430 Americans of Yazidi background and Nobel laureate Nadia Murad accused French conglomerate Lafarge of supporting brutal attacks on the population through a conspiracy with the Islamic State, according to a complaint reviewed by AFP.

The civil suit, filed in a New York court by attorneys that include human rights lawyer Amal Clooney references a $778m US Department of Justice fine and guilty criminal plea in October 2022 by Lafarge, which was acquired by Swiss company Holcim in 2015.

Yazidi plaintiffs asked the court to find Lafarge liable for violations of the US Anti-Terrorism Act and assess compensatory damages, plus attorneys fees.