Guineans are demanding justice for a young Guinean academic killed in an apparent racist attack in France. Professor Dr Mamoudou Barry was beaten to death in Rouen, France, last week by a man of Turkish origin shortly before the final of the Africa Cup of Nations between Algeria and Senegal on Friday night. Mamoudou's crime? Supporting Senegal in the final match.
Mamoudou was 31 at the time of his death. "Indeed, there were racist remarks referring to the skin colour of Mr Barry," the family lawyer, Me Jonas Haddad, confirmed on Europe 1. According to police sources, Mamoudou was attacked in Canteleu, in the suburbs of Rouen. "The facts would have been committed between 8 pm and 9 pm, subject to the outcome of future investigations," said Rouen's prosecutor, Pascal Prache, in a message to AFP.
According to a close friend of the victim, Kalil Aissata Kéita, himself a Guinean and a teacher-researcher at the University of Rouen, "the aggressor pointed them out and said: 'You black dirty, we go fuck you tonight '". It was then that Mamadou, who was in his car until that point, "came out, just to have explanations on why the insult was made against him," said Jonas Haddad to Europe 1. "Immediately, he was punched and kicked, which caused his fall, and he fell headfirst on the ground with the edge of a bus stop, which caused the fatal injuries."
Mamoudou's death has sparked widespread outrage online as well as offline. Petitions have been started online to investigate into Mamoudou's death and Guineans took it upon themselves to protest outside the French embassy in Guinea to demand justice.
According to data provided by French police, racism and xenophobia (both put in one category that is separated from bias against Muslims and anti-semitism which are two other separate categories) make up the highest number of reported hate crimes in France. Crimes reported in this category include threatening behaviour, physical assault, and homicide.
Mamoudou's murder is currently under investigation.
Header Image Credit: Guinee360