• Hichem Miraoui, a 46-year-old father of two, was killed in the second racially motivated attack in southern France, with fears of growing Islamophobic rhetoric.
• The attacker urged that Muslims be “hunted down” and “stopped,” amid a report of the rise of over 40 far-right extremist groups across France.
French authorities have initiated a terrorism investigation following the fatal shooting of Hichem Miraoui, a 46-year-old Tunisian father of two, in the southern town of Puget-sur-Argens. The suspect, identified as Christophe B., a 53-year-old with a documented history of far-right sympathies, allegedly targeted Miraoui in what investigators are treating as an Islamophobic killing.
France’s national anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office (PNAT) has taken over the case — the first time it has done so in response to a murder believed to be driven by far-right ideology. Miraoui, a father of two, was shot outside his salon on May 25 in broad daylight, prompting shock in the local community and beyond.
As reported by Politico, Christophe B. posted videos shortly before and after the attack, denouncing Muslims and immigrants while urging “French people to wake up.” The suspect’s online activity, which included racist and inflammatory rhetoric, played a critical role in the case being classified as ideologically driven.
In one video, cited by The Times, the suspect reportedly said: “Today, we say stop, stop to these Muslims. Damn it, French people, wake up, show some courage and hunt them down wherever they are.”
Following the murder of Aboubakar Cissé, a young Malian Muslim who was stabbed to death on April 25 in a mosque, this is the second murder with racial and anti-Muslim motives that has taken place in the south of France.
Locals have expressed how much Mr. Miraoui’s loss has affected the community. “He even cut hair for free when people couldn’t pay… he regularly used to cut my son’s hair,” said Mr. Gharssalli, a welder from the southern town.
A card signed by fellow shopkeepers said Mr. Miraoui’s death — remembered as hard-working and warm — would “leave a void.”
Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin condemned the murder, while Senator Bruno Retailleau called it a “racist act” that betrayed French values. Yet critics argue that such condemnations are insufficient given what some view as an increasingly hostile political climate. Socialist leader Olivier Faure accused Retailleau and others of fostering a “climate of suspicion” around foreigners, enabling a wider normalization of hate speech.
For residents of Puget-sur-Argens, the murder has exposed deeper social tensions. One local woman told The Straits Times that Miraoui was well-liked by people of all backgrounds: “He cut everyone’s hair.”
The treatment, and the downplayed investigation and publicity of this murder, stand in stark contrast with aggressive secularist measures — such as banning hijabs in schools and limiting religious expression — often justified as essential to national unity. Critics argue that the state simultaneously downplays or delays recognising far-right violence as terrorism.
Miraoui’s murder, marked by explicitly racist motives and documented online hate from the suspect, has finally been classified as terrorism — the first such case involving far-right ideology. Yet many observers note the delayed recognition and tepid official discourse, compared to the immediate, sweeping crackdowns seen in response to alleged Muslim-linked violence.
A recent report by the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism (GPAHE) reveals a concerning proliferation of over 40 far-right extremist groups in France, many of which are “explicitly anti-Muslim.” The report documents how these groups frequently portray Muslims as “invaders” and “threats to national identity,” and warns that “white nationalist, anti-immigrant, and anti-Muslim groups are especially widespread.” GPAHE urges stronger government action to dismantle these networks and push back against the normalisation of such hate.
The comparatively muted media and official response stands in stark contrast to the heavy-handed treatment often applied to France’s Muslim communities. The disparity, critics argue, points to a dangerous imbalance in how threats are defined and addressed in public discourse.
Miraoui’s death has reverberated beyond the small Riviera town. Community leaders and rights groups say it reflects a broader climate of tension, as concerns mount over the mainstreaming of divisive political language that, they argue, may embolden right-wing extremism and terrorism.
The attack comes amid a noted increase in racially motivated crimes in France. The decision to treat this case as terrorism may indicate a growing recognition of the threat posed by far-right extremism — but questions remain as to whether political leaders will treat it with the same urgency and firm legal commitment as they have toward curbing religious expression.
As Microsoft News notes, anti-racist groups have long warned that the convergence of online hate, political rhetoric, and inadequate enforcement creates fertile ground for radicalisation. For many, the murder of Hichem Miraoui is not just a tragedy — it is a warning.
