France opens historic terror probe into racist killing of Tunisian barber
French authorities have launched a terrorism investigation into the killing of Tunisian barber Hichem Miraoui
PARIS (MNTV) – In a historic move, French authorities have launched a terrorism investigation into the killing of Tunisian barber Hichem Miraoui, marking the first time a racially motivated crime has been classified as an act of domestic terrorism.
Miraoui, in his forties, was fatally shot five times at his home in Puget-sur-Argens, southern France, on May 31, 2025, by a neighbor, Christophe Belgembe.
Belgembe, known for his xenophobic views and far-right affiliations, admitted to the shooting but denied its racial motivation.
Videos previously uploaded to his Facebook account revealed hateful remarks, including claims of “getting rid of 2-3 pieces of junk.”
French investigators have tied the case to the broader rise of anti-Arab and Islamophobic hate crimes across the country.
Between January and March 2025, such incidents increased by over 70% compared to the same period in 2024.
According to Aljazeera, Miraoui’s family had expressed concern about Belgembe’s behavior in the weeks leading up to the murder.
A legal gun owner and member of a shooting club, Belgembe reportedly posed a growing threat to Miraoui, who was planning to visit Tunisia to see his ailing mother for the first time in eight years.
On June 8, a White March (Marche Blanche) was held in Puget-sur-Argens to honor Miraoui, with participants carrying signs that read, “Racism has killed again” and “Rest in peace, Hichem.”
Thousands also protested in Marseille, condemning the rise in hate crimes.
“This climate of hatred has been escalating for years,” said Mourad Battikh, the family’s lawyer.
“Hichem’s death is the result of an increasingly hostile environment toward Arabs and Muslims,” he said to Aljazeera.
Over the past year, three men have been killed in apparent racially motivated crimes in France, but Miraoui’s case is the first to be handled by the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office (PNAT).
Zelie Heran, legal head of SOS Racisme, commended the move but questioned why similar cases had not received the same classification.
“France needs urgent antiracist policies and rhetoric,” Heran said, criticizing the government’s focus on restrictive measures against migrants and Muslims.
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, for example, recently proposed banning headscarves at public universities and has echoed far-right claims about migration.
In April, another hate crime rocked southern France when Aboubakar Cisse, a young Malian man, was stabbed 57 times while preparing his mosque for prayer.
Despite evidence of religious and racial hatred, the case was not classified as terrorism.
The body of Miraoui was returned to Tunisia on June 11, reuniting him with his mother under heartbreaking circumstances.
For his family and many others, his death symbolizes a call for justice and meaningful action against racism and xenophobia in France.
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