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With a Moroccan killing a student.. France moves towards toughening stance against illegal immigration
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The incident of the French student's murder reveals gaps in the immigration and security system, prompting the government to reconsider its policies and tighten measures to protect citizens

Conservative French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau pledged on Wednesday to take new steps to combat illegal immigration following the arrest by Swiss authorities of a Moroccan citizen suspected of killing a 19-year-old university student and leaving her body in a forest in Paris.
A source familiar with the case indicated that the suspect is a 22-year-old Moroccan national, while prosecutors clarified that he had previously been convicted of rape and issued an order to leave France.
The student's assassination is expected to exacerbate political tension in France, where the new right-wing government intends to tighten immigration rules. Retailleau stated, "This is a heinous crime."
Retailleau, who took office on Monday succeeding Gérald Darmanin, had previously vowed to strengthen law and order, tighten immigration legislation, and facilitate the deportation of foreigners convicted of crimes.
He added, "As leaders, it is our responsibility to refuse to surrender to what seems inevitable and to develop our legal arsenal to protect the French." He continued, "If we need to amend laws, let's do it."
The student's body was discovered on Saturday in the Boulogne Forest west of Paris, near the Paris-Dauphine University where she was studying. Authorities have only revealed the victim's first name, Philippine.
A spokesperson for the Swiss Ministry of Justice told AFP that the Moroccan citizen was arrested on Tuesday in the Geneva canton in Switzerland, as the main suspect in the murder that occurred in Paris.
The spokesperson added, "The Federal Justice Office later issued an arrest warrant for his extradition based on an arrest request from France." The student was last seen at the university on Friday, and according to a security source, eyewitnesses reported seeing a man carrying an axe.
According to prosecutors, the man was convicted in 2021 of committing a rape in 2019 when he was a minor, and was released in June 2024 after serving his sentence. He was then placed in an administrative detention center, according to a source familiar with the case.
In early September, a judge ordered his release on condition that he regularly inform authorities of his whereabouts, but just before the student's murder, the suspect was placed on a wanted list for violating his release conditions.
The student's death sparked widespread anger in France, with politicians from the right and left calling for tougher measures. Jordan Bardella, president of the far-right National Rally party (the largest party in parliament), wrote on the "X" platform on Tuesday evening: "Philippine's life was snatched away by a Moroccan immigrant who was subject to a deportation order."
He added that "our judicial system is lenient, our state is dysfunctional, and our leaders leave the French to coexist with human time bombs," continuing, "It's time for this government to act: our citizens are feeling extremely angry."
Former Socialist President François Hollande also weighed in, affirming that deportation orders should be executed "quickly." France regularly issues deportation orders, but only 7 percent of them are executed, compared to 30 percent across the European Union.
Public law expert Marie-Laure Basilien-Gainche said that French authorities issue too many of these orders, adding, "We are witnessing an increase in the number of deportation orders issued against people whom we know from the start cannot return to their countries of origin or those they transited through."
Levant-Agencies
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BENEFIT AGM approves 10%...
- March 27, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).
Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.
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