Family Lawyer Rejects French Minister's Invitation After Mosque Murder

Paris, May 3, 2025, 07:30 PM IST – Yassine Bouzrou, the lawyer representing the family of Aboubakar Cissé—a young Malian man brutally murdered with 57 stab wounds while praying in a mosque in La Grand-Combe, Gard—has strongly advised his clients against accepting an invitation from French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau. Speaking on Franceinfo on Saturday, Bouzrou criticized Retailleau’s remarks as “totally disrespectful,” particularly for referring to Cissé as an “individual in an irregular situation” during an interview on Europe 1 and CNews.

Retailleau is scheduled to meet the family on Monday at Place Beauvau, but Bouzrou stated, “I strongly advise my clients not to go to a minister who has disrespected them in this way in front of all of France.” While Bouzrou did not confirm whether the family would ultimately attend, his comments reflect deep frustration with the minister’s handling of the case. Retailleau has faced accusations of delaying engagement with the family and showing a lack of empathy, with critics noting his visit to the mosque occurred 48 hours after the murder—a delay that sparked outrage among participants in recent protests.

The minister defended his actions at the National Assembly, rejecting claims of bias against France’s Muslim community and explaining the difficulty in contacting Cissé’s family, who are spread across two African countries. “When you are the Interior Minister, you must meet the family—the legally verified family,” Retailleau said. However, his comments have fueled further controversy, with many accusing him of insensitivity and highlighting broader tensions over the treatment of Muslim communities in France.