Far-right French mayor blames Muslims for violence, draws fierce backlash

Emile Roger Lombertie, the mayor of France’s Limoges and a controversial political figure affiliated with the far-right, has provoked widespread condemnation after making inflammatory and racially charged remarks targeting the Muslim community in the aftermath of recent protests in the Val de l’Aurence district.

Lombertie attributed the unrest to what he described as “the alliance of Islamic ideology with the radical left, especially the La France Insoumise party.” He accused Muslim residents of fostering an environment of “violence and lawlessness,” painting entire neighborhoods with a broad and derogatory brush, Caliber.Az reports, citing Algerian media.

The mayor's rhetoric did not stop there. In a particularly incendiary comparison, Lombertie likened the youth and residents of Val de l’Aurence to “monsters” and likened the recent confrontations to “something similar to the Algerian War,” a reference many have interpreted as a troubling resurgence of colonial-era prejudices. His comments were swiftly condemned by human rights organizations, anti-racism advocates, and representatives of France’s Muslim community, who described the remarks as dangerous incitement to hatred and a blatant display of Islamophobia.

These statements angered human rights organizations and defenders of Muslims in France, who considered them direct incitement to hatred and violence, and a reminder of the extent to which Islamophobia is entrenched in the discourse of some French officials.

The protests in Val de l’Aurence, which erupted over the weekend, were marked by clashes between local youth and heavily armed police forces. According to local sources, more than 170 projectiles were fired by security personnel, with mortar fire reportedly used by some protesters. The unrest led to minor injuries among ten police officers.

In response, the French government deployed significant reinforcements, including specialized riot control units, municipal police forces, and elite security personnel. Authorities remain on high alert for further disturbances in the coming days.

These racist and unacceptable statements continue to fuel discrimination and ignite tensions. Instead of addressing the causes of social tension and discrimination suffered by marginalized neighborhoods, some officials resort to hate speech, trying to blame Islam for the failure of local policies and involving Algeria’s name in any turmoil or social debate.

By Vafa Guliyeva