Overview

• On May 31, French national Christophe B., 53, fatally shot his neighbor Hichem Miraoui, 46, outside Miraoui’s home in Puget-sur-Argens in an attack classified by the anti-terror prosecutor as both racist and terrorist.
• Christophe B. has been charged with terrorist assassination motivated by the victim’s origin and is in custody after acknowledging the shooting but contesting any racist or terror intent.
• Approximately 2,000 people attended two white marches on June 8—one in Puget-sur-Argens and another in Marseille—under the theme of dignified remembrance for Miraoui.
• Organizers and Miraoui’s family insisted the tributes remain nonpolitical, yet three LFI deputies took part and MP Sébastien Delogu was asked by participants to remove his tricolor sash.
• Community leaders and attendees used the gatherings to call for stronger national action against xenophobia and hate crimes amid fears of rising extremist rhetoric.