By Randa Darwish
A planned performance by the French-Algerian Muslim rapper, Medine, is sparking debate in France as it is due to take place at the Bataclan, where a series of terrorist attacks killed dozens in 2015.
The decision to allow Medine to perform at the famous venue was criticized by right leaning leaders and politicians who demanded the French President, Emmanuel Macron, to intervene. It was described as “sacrilege for the victims” and a “dishonor for France,” as the French Republican leader, Laurent Wauquiez tweeted.
Translation: “Islamic barbarism cost 90 French people their lives in the Bataclan. Less than three years later, there will be someone who sings about 'crucifying secularists' and calls himself 'Islamo-scum’ in there. Sacrilege for the victims and dishonor for France.”
France's far-right National Rally party organized an online petition calling to ban the concert. The petition was signed by 17,000 by Monday evening.
Another tweet by Marine Le Pen celebrating the increase in number of people who signed the petition called for people to be “vigilant” and “continue the fight” for their people who died in 2015 attacks.
Her tweet upset the leader of one of Bataclan's victims' groups, Emmanuel Domenach, who tweeted: "It's crazy for you to use the victims of terrorism for your sterile controversy. What level of dishonour does that put you in?”
Despite the fact that politicians are seizing the memory of terrorism victims for their political purposes, the campaign found supporters from outside the far-right.
The concert’s promoter, Eric Bellamy confirmed to the French Le Monde that the concert will go ahead saying Medine had explained his lyrics several times, and is not an islamist. “There is no ambiguity in what he says,” Bellamy added.
Controversy sparked by Medine started in 2015 over his album “Jihad,” although the content emphasized ideas against violence or a war of religions. Additionally, his song “Don’t Laik”, was against French secularism, as he told the New York Times earlier. He said the song’s title is a mash-up of English “don’t like” and the French word for secularism, “laïcité”.
The song caused an outcry among French for its lyrics that read: "Let's crucify the secularists like at Calvary... put fatwas on the heads of these idiots.”
Later the rapper said he aimed to “take the heat out of the French culture war over Islam”, but seems he went “too far” in the song, according to France24 news website.
Accordingly, Medine told the AFP: "For 15 years I have fought all forms of radicalisation in my albums which has led to me being attacked by the extreme right and their supporters, who twist the meaning of my songs.” He added: "Can we let the extreme right dictate what concerts go on and our freedom of expression?”
His fans expressed their support, dismissing allegations of terrorism by the far-right politicians who did not understand the point behind his songs.
Earlier in March this year, Medine released a song called: “Bataclan”, about how he had always dreamed of playing at the famous music venue since he his childhood. Later in October, he announced the planned show. Tickets were quickly sold out, leading to the annoucement of a second venue date.
