Hundreds of worshippers gathered for a poignant funeral in rural France.
They mourned Aboubakar Cisse, the 22-year-old Malian man tragically murdered in a mosque.
The brutal stabbing in La Grand-Combe has deeply shaken the nation. President Macron affirmed that religious hatred has no place in French society.
Approximately 700 faithful congregated at the Khadija Mosque and its surroundings.
They offered prayers before Cisse’s coffin, draped in a green cloth. Cisse hailed from Yaguine in Mali and will be buried there.
SOS Racisme condemned the “incredible act of hatred.”
French authorities are investigating the killing as a potential premeditated murder rooted in race or religion.
A French man of Bosnian origin, suspected of the stabbing and filming, surrendered in Italy. He awaits extradition to France to face justice.
France, with its large Muslim population, witnesses heightened tensions. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau faced criticism for his initial response.
He cited Cisse’s “irregular situation” when explaining a delay in contacting the family.
Lawmakers observed a moment of silence for Cisse. Retailleau is now scheduled to meet with the family in Paris on Monday.