Religious Hate Has No Place in France, Says Macron After Brutal Mosque Killing

French President Emmanuel Macron has condemned an act of brutal violence that shocked the nation on Friday, April 25, after a young Muslim worshipper was stabbed to death inside a mosque in La Grand-Combe, southern France.

“Racism and hatred based on religion can have no place in France. Freedom of worship cannot be violated,” Macron said in a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, extending his solidarity to France’s Muslim citizens.

The victim, identified as Aboubakar Cisse, a Malian national in his early twenties, was attacked during prayer inside the mosque. The assailant, reportedly a French citizen of Bosnian origin named Olivier A., filmed the horrific attack, shouting anti-Islamic insults before fleeing the scene. He remains at large and is considered “extremely dangerous,” according to authorities.

French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou described the killing as an “Islamophobic atrocity,” while regional prosecutor Abdelkrim Grini urged caution, noting that while investigators are prioritizing Islamophobia as the main motive, they are also considering other possible motives.

The gruesome murder has sparked national outrage. On Sunday, around 1,000 residents of La Grand-Combe, a small village with just 5,000 inhabitants, participated in a “white march” to honor the memory of Aboubakar.

The French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM) condemned the attack as an “anti-Muslim terrorist act” and urged Muslims to remain vigilant. Similarly, the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions of France (CRIF) called the crime “despicable” and stressed that all French people should be horrified by such acts of violence.

Authorities revealed that the attacker had no prior criminal record but emphasized the urgent need to capture him before he potentially harms others. The incident has also prompted calls for a protest “against Islamophobia” in Paris.

This latest tragedy highlights growing concerns about religious intolerance and hate crimes in Europe, as leaders urge unity, peace, and the protection of fundamental freedoms.