France: Bruno Retailleau Accused of Fueling Islamophobia After Algeria Crisis
After being heavily criticized for contributing to the deterioration of Franco-Algerian relations, French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau now faces accusations from the left of fostering an atmosphere of Islamophobia in the country, following the murder of a Muslim worshiper in a mosque in the southern region of Gard.
On Friday, April 25, young Malian Aboubakar Cissé was fatally stabbed inside a mosque. Although Retailleau quickly commented on social media, expressing solidarity with the Muslim community, he has been harshly criticized for delaying his visit to the city and for not entering the mosque where the murder occurred.
His opponents accuse him of applying “double standards,” pointing out that he was much quicker to visit other religious sites after attacks on churches or synagogues. His decision to proceed with two political meetings linked to his bid for the leadership of the Republican Party (LR), despite the tragedy, also raised questions about his priorities.
When asked on BFMTV why he delayed, Retailleau said he was waiting for details from the investigation—but his hesitant response only increased the backlash. He also refuses to acknowledge the incident as a case of anti-Muslim hatred, further fueling public outrage.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of La France Insoumise (LFI), accused the minister of normalizing anti-Muslim rhetoric, citing past remarks like “Down with the veil!” made during a public event. Other left-wing figures, including Ségolène Royal and Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, criticized his actions, claiming he is exploiting Muslim communities for political gain.
Manuel Bompard, LFI coordinator, denounced what he called an “obsessive” narrative targeting Muslims, which he said is incompatible with Retailleau’s role as minister of religious affairs. He argued that Retailleau, along with certain media outlets, contributes to spreading suspicion and hatred toward Muslims.
Still under fire for his handling of the Algerian diplomatic crisis—now in its ninth month—Bruno Retailleau, who aims to run in the 2027 presidential election, finds himself once again at the center of controversy over his polarizing positions on Islam and the veil.
