Retired French cop to face charges over assaulting Muslim girls in headscarf
NICE, France (AA) – A retired French police officer accused of assaulting two high school girls wearing headscarves will appear in court to face charges.
Footage of the attack, which occurred early this year in France’s southern city of Montpellier, was circulated widely on social media during the recent presidential election.
The trial comes five months later after the suspect was arrested in April.
The suspect is accused of assaulting the girls and targeting their religious belief in a park.
Lawyer Nabil Boudi said that the suspect directed “clearly objectionable remarks at the young girls” because their headscarf showed their religious affiliation.
The alleged aggression took place at a time when debate on the issue of the wearing of the veil and Islamophobia in France featured in many candidates’ campaign messages.
About 8% of France’s population, around 6 million, is Muslim.
French Muslims- most of whom consist of North Africans- face increasing marginalization and social exclusion with rising levels of Islamophobia in the country, targeting its vulnerable Muslim minority.
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